How can I avoid counterfeit Vietnamese rum when buying alcohol in Nha Trang?

An option for anyone worried about fakes in town is duty-free. In late August 2026 travelers asked whether Vietnamese rum is sold in the departure area, and in September one traveler said they had bought Vietnamese rum at a duty-free shop and were very pleased. According to them, the range there is good, with proper international brands, and some shops accept Vietnamese dong, which helps spend leftover cash.

In August 2026 one participant rated Vietnamese rum as mediocre overall but singled out ISC — only the plain version without flavourings. In their words, it is cheap and therefore not worth counterfeiting. This is one person's taste and reasoning, not an authenticity check.

In August 2026 travelers discussed a popular Vietnamese rum and asked where to buy it without risking poisoning. Participants told one buyer that they had bought a fake: Chauvet is a trademark and cannot be spelled any other way. Before buying, check the exact brand spelling on the label; a similar but different name is a reason to put the bottle back.

Participants note that it is the popular bottles that get copied: in August 2026 a tourist bought an imitation of a well-known Vietnamese rum, taking it for the original. So a brand's popularity alone is no guarantee — check the name and label design especially carefully on Chauvet. The same discussion also raised the question of 'proper' rum made from sugarcane distillate rather than from spirit and concentrate.