For 30,000 VND, 50,000 VND, 70,000 VND… – with such a small amount of money, consumers can easily buy sunglasses with printed or embossed logos of major, reputable international brands at local markets or fashion and accessory stores.
Walking around Hoi Market in Cam Xuyen commune, Ha Tinh province, it's easy to spot roadside stalls displaying sunglasses from brands like Ray-Ban, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and more.
What's noteworthy here is that behind the "glamorous" facade of these luxury brands, many products are in serious disrepair: metal frames are rusty, plastic frames are chipped, scratched, and covered in thick dust. Sellers still eagerly offer their wares, and buyers still stop to look out of curiosity, despite the fact that the actual quality of these glasses is a big question mark.
Posing as customers looking to buy glasses, we stopped at a stall. The salesperson quickly pulled out a few samples and readily introduced them: "These look very similar to Ray-Ban, they're very well-made, they look just like the real thing when you wear them, and they only cost 50,000 dong."
When we expressed concerns about the quality, especially the UV protection, the seller just laughed it off: "It does offer some UV protection, but not complete protection. As long as it's comfortable to wear, that's fine." This dismissive answer made it even harder for buyers to distinguish between a genuine eye protection product and a cheap fashion item that poses many risks to their eyesight.
Ms. Nguyen Cam Mai, a resident of Ha Huy Tap ward, said: "Actually, I choose to buy sunglasses at the market or many accessory stores because they are cheap, only a few tens of thousands of dong – a price that everyone can afford. Most sellers say they protect against UV rays, so that's all I know."
We continued our search to the Ha Tinh market area in Thanh Sen ward. Here, it wasn't difficult to find numerous stalls selling sunglasses side-by-side. The glasses hung from racks, placed directly on the ground, exposed to dust, smoke, and the hot sun. On the shelves were glasses stamped with the logos of many big brands such as Dior, Hermès…
Acting as potential buyers, we were assured by the seller that these glasses were UV-protective and priced at only 50,000 VND. Seeing our hesitation, the seller reassured us, "Buy them, everyone else buys them, there's no problem." However, when we pressed for information about the origin or manufacturer's documentation, the seller gave vague answers and quickly moved on to offering other products. This ambiguity further raises serious questions about the actual quality of these cheap glasses.
Ms. Phan Nhu Quynh, a resident of Thanh Sen ward, shared: "To be honest, I know that the sunglasses sold in the market or some stores are counterfeit. Because they are fake, the quality is obviously poor, but I've been using them for a while and they're still fine, so I continue to use them. They're cheap, so why not buy them?"
More importantly, in many fashion and accessory stores in the area, children's sunglasses are widely available, in a variety of eye-catching colors and whimsical designs. These glasses quickly attract the attention of parents and children, but their actual quality is not verified.
According to our reporter's survey, consumers can own a pair of sunglasses labeled as "branded" for as little as 30,000 VND. This means the wholesale price for sellers is even much lower. From this reality, a big question arises: with such surprisingly low prices, do these sunglasses truly guarantee UV protection and eye protection as advertised?
Dr. Pham Thi Tra Giang, Head of the Examination, Pharmacy, and Paraclinical Department at Ha Tinh Eye Hospital, stated: "For a pair of glasses to protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays, the lenses must be treated with specialized technology and undergo rigorous quality control. These factors often come with a high production cost."
Therefore, products sold widely for just a few tens of thousands of dong are unlikely to meet eye protection standards. These glasses are essentially just pieces of colored plastic or low-quality glass, lacking optical filtering capabilities.
According to Dr. Pham Thi Tra Giang, wearing poor-quality sunglasses is even more dangerous than exposing your eyes to the sun without them. When not wearing sunglasses, the eyes instinctively squint to protect themselves. However, when using counterfeit glasses, the pupils dilate, allowing harmful rays to penetrate deeper into the eye, damaging the retina and causing long-term vision problems, even permanent vision loss.
Don't be fooled by the attractive appearance and low price of these glasses, because once your vision is lost, no amount of money can buy it back. Regulatory agencies need to investigate and take action, but most importantly, consumers need to be vigilant. Choose to buy glasses from reputable establishments with UV measurement equipment and say "no" to counterfeit and fake products.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/mua-kinh-re-ban-thi-luc-post308195.html
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