General Deparment of Vietnam Customs fixed IT system problems promptly

Professional activities at Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Ninh Customs Department). Photo: Thái Bình

The Vietnam General Department of Vietnam Customs has issued a press release detailing the recent technical difficulties experienced with its IT system and the National Single Window. On the evening of August 6, 2024, a technical glitch disrupted the operation of these crucial systems.

To ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods and facilitate trade activities, the General Department of Vietnam Customs swiftly issued an urgent directive (No. 3748/TCHQ-GSQL dated August 6, 2024) to provincial customs departments, instructing them to temporarily revert to manual customs procedures. Concurrently, the department intensified its efforts to prevent smuggling, trade fraud, and to support businesses carrying out customs procedure during this period.

From the onset of the system failure until the early morning of August 7, 2024, all customs procedures were promptly addressed by customs authorities, with businesses cooperating closely to facilitate the process.

In parallel, the General Department of Vietnam Customs mobilized technical and operational resources to rectify the issue. By 8:35 AM on August 7, 2024, the customs electronic data processing system was fully restored and gradually stabilized.

To address any outstanding queries during this period, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has assigned dedicated teams to provide direct support to businesses. All inquiries received have been prioritized and addressed to expedite customs clearance.

Following the resolution of the technical issue, the General Department of Vietnam Customs issued Directive No. 3755/TCHQ-GSQL on August 7, 2024, revoking the previous directive (No. 3748/TCHQ-GSQL). The department expressed its gratitude to businesses and media outlets for their timely feedback and understanding during this challenging period.

Directive No. 3755/TCHQ-GSQL also mandates directors provincial and municipal customs departments to instruct their subordinate customs offices to update and supplement goods information in the system, particularly for goods passing through supervised areas.

For ports, warehouses, and inspection sites connected to the VASSCM system, businesses are required to cross-check goods information previously entered into the system with the information provided by customs authorities. Any discrepancies should be promptly reported to the managing customs office for verification.

At the port, warehouse, and location areas connected to the VASSCM system, the port, warehouse, yard, and location business enterprises are required to check and compare the information of goods that have passed through the surveillance area according to the instructions in Official Dispatch 3748/TCHQ-GSQL with the information of goods eligible to pass through the surveillance area transmitted by the customs authority; if the information is consistent, update and supplement the information of exported and imported goods brought in (get in), taken out (get out) into the System according to the provisions of Point a, Clause 3, Article 52 of Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC to be completed by August 7, 2024. In case there is no information, immediately notify the Customs Branch managing the storage location to coordinate inspection and verification.

The Customs Branch in charge of managing the port, warehouse, yard, and location shall check and compare the information of the port, warehouse, yard, and location business enterprise updated with the information on the paper customs declaration submitted by the customs declarant to the customs authority when taking goods out of the surveillance area, and the declaration information on the electronic customs data processing system.

At the border gate area, port, warehouse, yard, and location that is not connected to the VASSCM system, the supervising customs officer shall check and compare the information on the paper customs declaration submitted by the customs declarant to the customs authority when taking goods out of the surveillance area with the declaration information on the electronic customs data processing system. If the information is consistent, the information on the goods passing through the surveillance area shall be updated into the system according to the provisions in Part V of the Procedure attached to Decision No. 1966/QD-TCHQ, completed within August 7, 2024.

In case it is discovered that the information on the paper customs declaration submitted by the customs declarant to the customs authority when taking goods out of the surveillance area is inconsistent with the declaration information on the customs electronic data processing system, the information shall be transferred to the control force for investigation, verification and handling in accordance with the provisions of law.

Furthermore, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has instructed all units to compile and compile a list of export consignments that have been entered into customs-supervised areas and import consignments that have been removed from such areas.