### Unraveling the Mailisa Scandal: Vietnam’s Beauty Spa Controversy
HÀ NỘI — The recent developments surrounding Mailisa, a well-known beauty spa chain in Vietnam, have sent shockwaves through the cosmetic industry and beyond. Law enforcement authorities have launched an extensive investigation into serious allegations of smuggling and illicit profiteering that could reshape the landscape of beauty clinics in the region.
### A Massive Confiscation
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities have confiscated staggering sums of wealth. Reports indicate that police have seized around VNĐ3 billion (approximately US$160,000), more than $400,000 in cash, 300 taels of gold, 100 land use right certificates, and an impressive fleet of 12 supercars. These assets are intended to support the investigation into the activities of the Mailisa chain.
### The Background of Allegations
The Anti-Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes Police Department initiated legal action on November 21 against the Mailisa Aesthetic Clinic Co Ltd and its director, Phan Thị Mai. Alongside her, seven additional individuals were detained on charges related to smuggling. As investigators delved deeper, they discovered that between 2020 and 2024, Mai, along with her husband Hoàng Kim Khánh, engaged in a controversial scheme involving the import of cosmetics.
### The Scheme Unveiled
Mai and Khánh are accused of purchasing low-cost cosmetics from Guangzhou, China, only to resell them within Vietnam through their Mailisa outlets, often at exorbitant prices. Alarmingly, these products had not met the stringent quality or ingredient standards necessary for a Certificate of Free Sale in China. The duo reportedly collaborated with Chinese partners to manipulate product origins, presenting them as being made in Hong Kong to deceive consumers.
### The Financial Fallout
Investigators estimate that Mailisa’s practices led to illegal profits reaching several trillion đồng, translating to hundreds of millions of US dollars. By the time the investigation was launched, Mailisa had expanded impressively, boasting 17 branches nationwide and distributing over eight million products across nearly 100 different product codes. This rapid growth raises questions about the regulatory oversight in Vietnam’s booming beauty industry.
### Quick Remedial Actions by the Directors
In the wake of their arrest, both Mai and Khánh have taken steps to address their alleged wrongdoings. They voluntarily paid a staggering VNĐ300 billion (around $11.4 million) to the State budget as a form of restitution. Additionally, they surrendered registration documents for their luxurious supercars and other valuable assets to aid the investigation, suggesting a desire to mitigate the repercussions of their actions.
### Marketing and Brand Strategy
The Mailisa beauty chain reportedly allocated around VNĐ20 billion (approximately $760,000) each month on social media advertising to boost its brand visibility. The couple used media campaigns to inflate the perceived effectiveness of their low-cost products, employing aspirational imagery to allure consumers into buying these overpriced items. Such tactics have raised concerns about the ethics of marketing practices in the cosmetic industry.
### Regulatory Consequences
As the investigation unfolds, the Ministry of Health has already initiated measures to dismantle Mailisa’s operations by revoking 80 declaration receipt numbers and 162 cosmetic products linked to the beauty salon. This decisive action signals a tightening grip on cosmetic regulations in Vietnam, aiming to ensure consumer safety and brand accountability in an industry rife with potential malpractice.
Each of these facets illustrates the intricate web of allegations and activities enveloping the Mailisa beauty salon saga, casting a spotlight on consumer protection as well as ethical practices within the beauty industry in Vietnam.