Key forces gating the door to the economy
On the morning of September 8, the Customs Department (Ministry of Finance) held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam Customs Traditional Day (September 10, 1945 - September 10, 2025).
Over the past 80 years, from the initial task of tax collection and anti-smuggling, Vietnam Customs has continuously grown, becoming a core force on the economic - financial front, protecting national security, sovereignty and international integration. With a strong reform spirit, the industry has pioneered digital transformation, simplified procedures, facilitated trade, and accompanied the business community.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang emphasized: "Over the past 80 years, Vietnam Customs has continuously matured, developed and affirmed to be the core force in carrying out the mission of guiding the national economy".
According to the Minister, Vietnam Customs has pioneered in innovation, transforming from a manual management model to comprehensive modernization, applying electronic customs, connecting one national gate, one ASEAN gate and moving towards digital customs, smart customs. At the same time, it is a leading unit in the Finance sector in administrative procedure reform, with over 99% of customs procedures conducted electronically, and online public services at a comprehensive level of over 62%.
The Minister cited: "In 2022, for the first time, Vietnam's import-export turnover will exceed the 700 billion USD mark and by 2024, the total import-export turnover of goods will reach 786.29 billion USD; putting Vietnam in 17th place among the 20 economies with the largest trade scale in the world in 2024".
Regarding revenue, the Minister said: "By 2024, total state budget revenue from import-export activities will reach VND 427,577 billion, accounting for 21.02% of total state budget revenue".
In addition to the task of collecting the budget, Minister Nguyen Van Thang highly appreciated the efforts of the Customs sector in fighting against smuggling, trade fraud and transnational drug crimes: "Vietnamese Customs has effectively coordinated with domestic and foreign agencies to successfully dismantle many major projects, seizing a large amount of exhibits, criminals operating on transnational networks with sophisticated and reckless methods, especially drug-related crimes".
5 development orientations in the coming period
To fulfill his responsibility in the coming period, Minister Nguyen Van Thang requested the Customs sector to focus on 5 major orientations: Building and perfecting customs laws; urgently deploying Digital Customs, Smart Customs; proactively advising and forecasting to ensure budget collection targets; promoting the role in national Steering Committees on anti-smuggling, facilitating trade; and building an elite, modern and honest customs force.
The Minister emphasized: "During the urgent completion of the construction of Digital Customs, Smart Customs on the platform of applying science and technology, innovation, meeting the need for automatic handling of all stages of customs operations, carrying out customs procedures anytime - anywhere - on all means".
On the side of the Customs Department, Director of the Customs Department Nguyen Van Tho affirmed: 80 years of construction and growth have been a journey full of hardships and challenges, marking the persistent contributions of generations of civil servants, public employees and workers in the Customs sector. That is a great pride, a solid foundation for us to continue writing the glorious history of Vietnam Customs today".
He emphasized the special role of customs forces in historical periods, from the task of collecting taxes and combating smuggling in the early days, to pioneering in reforming and modernizing the integration process. According to him: "For many consecutive years, the Customs sector has always excellently fulfilled the task of collecting the state budget, with the revenue exceeding the assigned Ordinance targets, contributing nearly a quarter of the total annual state budget revenue".
Commitment to innovation and integration
Looking at the coming period, Director Nguyen Van Tho proposed 7 development orientations: Completing customs laws; promoting reform, modernization, digital transformation; enhancing the effectiveness of state management, ensuring economic security, national sovereignty; facilitating trade; developing sustainable revenue sources; building a team of civil servants with sufficient quantity and strong quality; and promoting international cooperation and integration.
He affirmed: With responsibility, confidence and new spirit, we todays Customs officials promise to continue to inherit and promote the glorious tradition of the past 80 years, constantly innovate, improve capacity, and excellently complete all tasks assigned by the Party, State and People.
The 80th Anniversary of Vietnam Customs Traditional Day is not only an opportunity to review the past journey, but also an affirmation of the determination to build a modern, honest, professional customs force, on par with the international level, meeting the requirements of deep integration and sustainable development of the country.
