The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 645/QD-TTg dated May 15, 2020 approving the Master Plan for e-commerce development for the 2021-2025 period to support and promote the widespread application of e-commerce in businesses and the community; build a healthy, competitive and sustainable e-commerce market; expand the consumption market for Vietnamese goods at home and abroad through e-commerce applications; and promote cross-border e-commerce transactions.
Although e-commerce is still a new model, this activity in Vietnam is becoming more and more vibrant than before. Mr. Dao Duy Tam - Deputy Director of the Customs Supervision and Management Department, Directorate of Customs - said: "In the current period, when participating in e-commerce transactions, organizations and individuals often purchase goods through electronic transaction systems, and goods transportation is carried out through express delivery companies.
The Government is assigning the Customs Department to develop a Decree on the management of export and import activities through e-commerce transactions, and the draft decree has been submitted to the Government by the Ministry of Finance since 2023. According to the Government's direction, after having an information technology system to serve the management of buying and selling activities and transactions on the floor, this Decree will be issued and officially put into effect.
Cross-border e-commerce activities play a very important role and significance for businesses. In recent times, customs authorities have strongly supported and accompanied businesses in carrying out customs procedures.
Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Vice President of Vietnam E-commerce Association VECOM said: "For the draft Decree on customs management for production and import, information is needed to ensure centralized management including information of sellers, buyers, related goods and finished products, helping all participants."
"We also hope that the Decree can be issued soon and put into effect soon to help customs agencies manage effectively as well as facilitate trade" - Ms. Do Thi Thu Thuy, Director of Legal and Customs, DHL - VNPT Express Co., Ltd. shared.
Currently, Vietnam is one of the 10 countries with the highest e-commerce growth rate globally and is leading in Southeast Asia. In 2023, total revenue from transactions between businesses and consumers on e-commerce platforms registered in Vietnam will reach about 498.9 trillion VND.
Of which, the total revenue of the 5 major e-commerce platforms Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, Sendo and Tiktok shop reached VND233.2 trillion, an increase of 53.4% compared to 2022. According to Amazon, Vietnam's cross-border retail sales revenue is growing by over 20% per year and is expected to reach VND256.1 trillion (USD11.1 billion) by 2026.
However, the strong development of e-commerce has posed many new problems and challenges for economic and social development, including the management of imported and exported goods across borders.
In terms of institutions, Vietnam currently has no specific regulations for goods traded via e-commerce. Depending on each case, goods traded via e-commerce sent to Vietnam are subject to customs procedures according to different types of customs authorities.
Goods sent via postal and express delivery services are subject to regulations on goods sent via postal and express delivery services; goods sent via regular sea, road, and air services are subject to customs procedures as for regular goods.
Therefore, in order to create a legal basis for management of e-commerce transactions, the Customs Directorate is currently drafting a Decree on customs management of exported and imported goods traded via e-commerce to submit to the Ministry of Finance for submission to the Government for promulgation.
