Update on Temu’s Operations in Vietnam

The Vietnamese branch of the e-commerce platform Temu is currently inactive with no specific date announced for its revival.

Customers who have placed orders without receiving their items can expect a full refund through their bank accounts. Additionally, they will receive credits in their Temu accounts for future purchases once the platform is back up and running.

The company behind Temu, Elementary Innovation Pte. Ltd, is still working to complete the necessary registration processes mandated by Decree 52, as updated by Decree 85, which governs e-commerce in Vietnam.

Since November 30, 2024, operations for Temu have been halted in Vietnam until they acquire the required business license.

Following the deactivation of its Vietnamese-language site, Temu released a statement in English reaffirming their commitment to meeting local regulatory requirements.

Unfortunately, the company has not shared when it expects to finalize the registration process.

Hoang Ninh, Deputy Director of the E-Commerce and Digital Economy Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has indicated that it is unclear when Temu might be permitted to operate again in Vietnam.

As part of regulatory measures, Vietnamese customs has halted shipments from unregistered e-commerce platforms, leading to many undelivered orders and increased concerns among customers about potential financial loss.

To make matters worse, prior to its suspension, Temu had increased the minimum order amount to 887,000 VND (approximately $35 USD), adding to the frustration of customers awaiting refunds.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has instructed Temu to formally apologize to Vietnamese consumers and ensure full refunds for any undelivered orders. Customers are entitled to two types of compensation:

A complete refund directly sent to their bank accounts.

Credit towards future orders, based on a percentage of the order value, which will be added to their Temu accounts and can’t be withdrawn until the platform becomes operational again in Vietnam.

Officials from the Ministry acknowledged that some refunds may still be pending, possibly due to errors in transactions during the payment and ordering processes on Temu’s platform.

Authorities in Vietnam have continually warned consumers about the potential dangers of shopping on international e-commerce platforms that lack proper registration.

Unlike local online marketplaces, these foreign platforms are not governed by Vietnamese consumer protection laws, which complicate efforts to:

Confirm product quality and authenticity.

Access after-sale services, returns, or warranty claims.

Handle disputes or get refunds for defective or misleading products.

Moreover, cross-border e-commerce platforms often require customers to share sensitive financial information, such as credit card or e-wallet details. Without adequate data protection under Vietnamese regulations, users are more vulnerable to fraud, identity theft, or unauthorized transactions.

Customers may also face additional hidden expenses like import duties and fees that are frequently not made clear at the time of purchase.