Last Friday, EuroCham Vietnam, in collaboration with its Transportation & Logistics Sector Committee and Regional Customs Branch II, successfully hosted the “EuroCham Training and Dialogue with Regional Customs Branch II” in Ho Chi Minh City. We are pleased to welcome more than 80 participants, including representatives from the Regional Customs Branch II, EuroCham members, and logistics professionals for a constructive exchange on import–export procedures and regulatory updates.
The event welcomed representatives from the Regional Customs Branch II, including:
- Ms. Le Thi Thuy Dung – Deputy Head of Operations Division of Custom Branch II
- Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Anh – Deputy Head of Operations Division of Custom Branch II
- Ms. Truong Thi Hien Thanh – Officer of Operations Division of Custom Branch II
European Businesses Identified Points for Improvement in Customs Regulations
In his opening remarks, EuroCham’s Vice-Chair Jean-Jacques Bouflet thanked the Customs authority for their ongoing support over the past five years. Noting that 28% of European companies in Vietnam identified customs procedures and regulations as a key challenge (EuroCham’s Q3 Business Confidence Index), Mr. Bouflet expressed EuroCham’s commitment to continued collaboration to further improve customs regulations in Vietnam.
Regulatory Updates
Ms. Truong Thi Hien Thanh from Regional Customs Branch II then led a training session, explaining and disseminating information about Decree No. 167/2025/NĐ-CP (dated June 30, 2025). She provided practical insights into customs operations, helping participants better understand compliance requirements and improve efficiency in daily business activities.
Dynamic Discussion with European Businesses
A following dedicated Q&A and dialogue session, moderated by Mr. Hai Minh Nguyen (Vice-Chair of EuroCham), together with Ms. Le Thi Thuy Dung (Deputy Head of Operations Division, Regional Customs Branch II) and Mr. Juergen Weber (Chairman of the Transportation & Logistics Sector Committee, EuroCham), allowed participants to raise concerns and discuss real-world challenges faced by companies in customs processes.
Key discussion points included:
- Improving transshipment and bonded warehousing processes; ensuring timely and risk-based VAT refunds; streamlining the treatment of non-commercial samples to support sourcing and production cycles.
- Advancing clarity on customs valuation, HS code consistency, and preferential tariff eligibility; enhancing predictability in regulatory implementation.
- Accelerating the move toward electronic certificates, online submissions, data sharing, and system interoperability.
- Strengthening coordination across agencies, particularly on licensing and inspection of specialised goods; ensuring timely notification of regulatory changes to reduce supply-chain disruptions.
From Insights to Changes
Closing the dialogue, Mr. Juergen Weber expressed sincere thanks to the Customs Branch II – Ho Chi Minh City for their valuable time and insights. He also thanked all participants for their active engagement and comments.
EuroCham will consolidate questions and comments from participants into an official letter to be sent to the Customs Department. The Customs Department will then review the input and provide answers and responses via an official letter to EuroCham.
A big thank you to EuroCham representatives for their contributions:
- Ms. Delphine Rousselet, Executive Director
- Ms. Diep Nguyen, Board Member, Vice-Chair of Transportations & Logistics Sector Committee
- Ms. Van Nguyen, Head of Hanoi office cum External Relations Manager
