Country/Territory profiles

Viet Nam

  • 1. Are laws and regulations published in official journal? (Art 1 TFA)

    Yes (Government will anounce the laws/ regulations in Government website and in official journals.)

  • 2a. Is there an opportunity to comment on new regulations and changes to existing ones prior to implementation? (Art 2.1.1 TFA)

    Yes (Government are open to receive input from related industries. For examples, currently Express Carriers are working to give input to the draft decree of E-commerce which is planned to put in practice in 2023.)

  • 2b. After the authorities have decided on new or changed regulations is there advance notice of the effective date (or a delayed effective date) to allow traders to make necessary changes and arrangements? (Art 2.1.2 TFA)

    Sometimes (add remark) (Sometimes they give us chance to know in advance, sometimes not)

  • 3. Does Customs issue advance (pre-entry) rulings, binding on all Customs ports, on classification and valuation questions?

    Yes

  • 4. Is there a public and regularly updated website available with

    • a. Laws and regulations? (Art 1 TFA)

      Yes (government website)

    • b. full description of all Customs procedures? (Art 2 TFA)

      Yes (customs website)

    • c. access to appeal procedure? (Art 2 TFA)

      Yes (customs website)

    • d. all forms and documents required for import and export? (Art 2 TFA)

      Other (add remark) (Not all of the forms and required document are available in customs website)

  • 5a. Are there other rules or procedures by Customs or any other government entity that in your experience restrict the operation of express delivery services in your country, such as:

    • a. Restrict the use of clearance procedures for express items by weight, quantity or value? (Art 7.8.2c TFA)

      Yes (The regulations of customs and other government conflict with each other and causes constrainst in clearance process, such as rquirement for quality inspection of non-trading shipments)

    • b. Other? Please specify:

  • 5b. If the answer to Q5a-a is "yes", what is the

    • a. weight

      NA

    • b. quantity

      NA

    • c. and/or value (local currency / USD)

      NA

  • 6. URL for Customs website

  • 1a. Does Customs accept and process electronically the data required for release of shipments in advance of their actual arrival so that they can be released either prior to or immediately after arrival? (Art 7.1 TFA)

    Yes (For shipments in green and yellow lane)

  • 1b. Can formalities for final clearance be completed through electronic means post-release?

    Yes (For shipments in green and yellow lane)

  • 2a. When are the following shipments typically released (WCO Immediate Release Guidelines)?

    • a. Letters and Documents (Cat. 1 of IRG)

      Same day

    • b. Low-value non dutiable items (e.g de minimis) (Cat 2 of IRG)

      Same day (Unless shipments in red lane and shipments having commodity under Government control list)

    • c. Low value dutiable items (Cat. 3 of IRG)

      Same day (Same day for green and yellow shipments. Red shipments takes from 1-2 days for physical inspection.)

    • d. High value dutiable items (Cat. 4 of IRG)

      Same day (Same day for green and yellow shipments. Red shipments takes from 1-2 days for physical inspection.)

  • 3. Is physical release of goods separate from clearance? (Will Customs release goods prior to completion of all formalities and final settlement of accounts?) (Art 7.3 TFA)

    No (Customs release goods once finish all clearance process )

  • 4. Is full-time (24/7) automated processing for the customs ports at which you operate available?

    No

  • 5a. Are the official working hours of the Customs office and personnel adapted to commercial needs and applied at local level? (RKC Std 3.1)

    Yes (Customs accept working overtime to meet our operation requirement)

  • 5b. Are there fees for Customs services during normal working hours?

    No

  • 5c. Does Customs and other agencies provide clearance services outside of the official office hours?

    Yes (Only customs offer service out of official working hours)

    • and if so, is there a published set of fees?

      No (It's up to each express carrier to work with customs on OT rate)

  • 5d. Will Customs provide dedicated clearance services away from the Customs office for a fee? (e.g. clearance at Express Consignment Facilities and Hubs)

    No

  • 6. For shipments arriving by air, does Customs inspect and release goods at the operator's facility or require their transfer to another facility? (Art 7.8.1a TFA)

    Other (add remark) (No answer)

  • 7a. Does Customs apply risk-management and risk-based selectivity to select items for documentary and/or physical examination? (Art 7.4 TFA)

    Yes

  • 7b. Does any other agency apply risk-management and risk-based selectivity to select items for documentary and/or physical examination? (Art 7.4 TFA)

    No (Not sure)

  • 8a. Are there multiple inspections (inspections by agencies other than Customs)?

    Yes (Quality inspection, Health and Safety inspection…)

  • 8b. Are they fully coordinated? (Art 8.1 TFA; RKC Std 3.35)

    Yes

  • 9a. Does the customs administration apply a de minimis regime that allows goods the value of which does not exceed a certain amount to be exempted from duties and taxes? (Art 7.8.2d TFA; RKC Std 4.13)

    Yes

  • 9b. If the answer above is "yes" what is that amount in local currency?

    1 million VND for import 5 million VND for export

    • What is the rough equivalent in USD?

      Other (add remark) (43 USD 212 USD)

  • 9c. Is de minimis based on intrinsic value (i. e. the cost of the goods without transport and insurance costs)?

    No (CIF value)

  • 9d. If the answer to 9a is "yes", are those goods subject to simplified procedures e.g. consolidated release/clearance or 'off manifest'? (Art 7.8.2a TFA)

    Yes (Shipments under de minimis have simple declaration (without HS code))

  • 10a. Does the customs administration apply an informal/simplified entry threshold that allows dutiable goods the value of which does not exceed a certain amount to be exempted from formal declaration procedures (WCO IRG Cat 3) e.g. as in the US for goods valued between $800 and $2500?

    No

  • 10b. If the answer above is "yes" what is that amount in local currency?

    • What is the rough equivalent in USD?

      Not applicable

  • 11a. Does Customs or any other agency require in connection with importation of goods that the importer provide any of the following items:

    • a. a consular invoice or a consular visa for a commercial invoice or other trade document (as evidence that particular goods are of a particular origin, or have arrived in a particular importing country, or have been applied to a particular end use)?

      No

    • b. a certificate from a pre-shipment inspection agency? (Art 10.5 TFA)

      No

    • c. a certificate of origin from a chamber of commerce or similar agency?

      Yes

  • 11b. Does Customs or any other agency accept electronic supporting documents? (Art 10.2 TFA)

    Yes

  • 11c. Does Customs or any other agency accept scanned copies of supporting documents?

    No

  • 12. Is the express carrier allowed to clear import shipments on behalf of the consignee without having to use a third-party licensed customs broker? (RKC Std 8.1)

    No

  • 13a. Are there processing fees for:

    • a. express clearance?

      No

    • b. on-site Customs facilities?

      No

    • c. IT systems?

      No

    • d. electronic transmissions by number or volume?

      No

    • e. other?

      No

  • 13b. Are these fees based on the value of the goods? (Art 6.2 (ii) TFA)

    Not applicable

  • 1a. Is there a limit on the time within which Customs is allowed to demand additional duties? (RKC Std 4.2)

    Yes

  • 1b. If the answer above is "yes", what is the time limit?

    5 years

  • 2a. May decisions of local Customs officials be appealed to a higher administrative level? (Art 4 TFA)

    Yes

  • 2b. May decisions of local Customs officials be appealed to an independent court? (Art 4 TFA)

    Yes

  • 2c. If the answer to either question 2a or 2b above is "yes" is there a time limit for filing such appeals?

    No (No time limit)

  • 2d. If the answer to question 2c is "yes" what is the time limit?

    Not applicable

  • 2e. If the answer to either question 2a or 2b is "yes", is there a time limit to rule on such appeals? (Art 4.4 TFA)

    No (No time limit)

  • 2f. If yes, what is the time limit?

    Not applicable

  • 3. Does Customs regularly use valuation databases with reference prices or other arbitrary uplifts to invoice values? (WCO Guidelines on the use of valuation databases)

    Yes

  • 4a. In case of seizures of illicit items (e.g. IPR), does Customs or any other agency require the express carrier to store the seized goods at its own premises and cost?

    Yes (Express Carrier have to build a warehouse for vilolated goods. The goods sit in that warehouse until Customs officially collect it for seizure)

  • 4b. If the answer to question 4a is "yes", how long is the period that the carrier is required to store the goods?

    Other (add remark) (No time limit)

  • 4c. If the answer to 4a is yes, does Customs take care of the final disposition of the goods...

    Yes

    • ...or is the express carrier required to destroy them?

      No

  • 1. Signatory to the Revised Kyoto Convention (Customs Reform)

    Yes

  • 1. TFA ratified?

    Yes

  • 2. Has the country set up a National Trade Facilitation Committee?

    Yes

    • a. Who leads it?

      Deputy Prime Minister

    • b. Is the private sector part of it?

      Yes

    •