Ho Chi Minh City: 1,135 Food Safety Violations Recorded in First 9 Months of 2026

In the first nine months of 2026, food safety management in Ho Chi Minh City faced significant challenges as authorities identified 1,135 violating establishments. Despite ongoing rigorous efforts, food hygiene remains a pressing concern.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Department, 16,540 facilities were inspected during this period. Consequently, 1,023 violating entities were penalized with fines totaling over 11 billion VND. Enforcement measures included the suspension of four facilities, the transfer of one case to investigation for suspected criminal activity, and formal warnings for 112 establishments. From January 1 to September 15, the city recorded 21 suspected food poisoning incidents. Of these, 9 have been confirmed, affecting 637 people and requiring 453 to be hospitalized.

Pham Khanh Phong Lan, Director of the HCMC Food Safety Department, highlighted the management difficulties: "The risk of food safety breaches in schools, communal kitchens, food service providers, and street food vendors remains prevalent. Moreover, the shift toward social media-based food sales, e-commerce platforms, and 'cloud kitchen' models is complicating our ability to monitor, trace origins, and enforce regulations effectively."

To tighten oversight in the final quarter of 2026, the Department proposes focusing on high-risk sectors such as school canteens, industrial zones, and catering services. Authorities are also calling for enhanced inter-agency coordination to clarify jurisdictional responsibilities and prevent gaps in oversight during the critical end-of-year peak.