Lang Son Customs - confident on a new journey

	Lang Son Customs holds meeting with Nanning Customs
	Lang Son Customs strengthens inspection and quarantine for exported fresh fruits
	Lang Son: Maintaining customs clearance at 6 border gates

Customs officials of Huu Nghi Border Gate Customs Branch receive and handle procedures for businesses. Photo: H.Nu

Breakthrough in administrative reform

On September 10, 1953, the Minister of Finance signed and issued Decree No. 206/TC-ND "establishing the Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai Border Import-Export Tax Branch under the Department of Taxation managed by the Administrative Inspection Committee and Import-Export Management Office of Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai", laying the foundation for Lang Son Customs Department to build and develop till now. Through the continuous efforts, persistence, bravery and responsibility of generations of leaders, officials and employees, over the past 70 years, Lang Son Customs Department has obtained many important results.

The breakthrough is that Lang Son has become a modern electronic customs unit which has effectively deployed state management mechanisms and policies on customs and is the leading agency in providing public services in Lang Son province. Also, Lang Son Customs has enhanced cooperation with Nanning Customs (China) to create maximum conditions for trade activities. In particular, to move towards building digital Customs and an innovative Customs model, Lang Son Customs has been actively applying information technology (IT) to all operational stages to meet the requirements of socio-economic development of the provinces and integration of the country; build a professional, specialized, and integrous Lang Son Customs, equipped with and mastering modern technological equipment.

From strong changes in management, state budget collection also achieved outstanding and remarkable achievements. Specifically, the Lang Son Customs Department has applied IT in tax calculation, tax debt management, tax collection, and tax debt information. The exchanging information systems on tax payment status between Customs - Tax - Treasury based on signed agreements have contributed to the unified management of taxpayers. The regular export, exchange, and check of revenues with the State Treasury helps update and manage revenues accurately and promptly. Data exchange has been automated, helping reduce human resources and be proactive in updating accurate data, improving taxpayers' compliance. The mechanism for taxpayers to self-declare, self-pay, and take responsibility under the law has been strengthened; Information and communication work and support for businesses in improving compliance have been promoted.

Thanks to continuous efforts, the budget collection through the area has achieved many remarkable results. In particular, in 2021, despite the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, given efforts, Lang Son Customs collected VND 7,750 billion and promoted the strong growth of import-export activities in the province.

In addition to the achievements, the fight against cross-border smuggling has always been one of the tasks that the Party, State, local Party Committee and local authority have assigned to Lang Son Customs Department since the early days of its establishment until now. Along with China building a hard fence, and the functional forces of the two countries have strengthened inspection and strict control of the border area, smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across the border from the beginning of 2020 has been controlled.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lang Son Customs always proactively implemented solutions to meet the goal of increasing customs clearance capacity. In addition, the Customs regularly worked with the Chinese side to grasp information and situations related to goods management, promptly provide warnings and instructions for Vietnamese enterprises to be proactive and flexible in import and export activities, helping minimize costs and time for customs clearance activities at the border gate, especially for exports of agricultural products.

According to the Director of Lang Son Customs Department Nguyen Hong Linh, along with the nation's history and the development of the customs sector, officials of Lang Son Customs Department are not only proud of the development process over the past 70 years. However, they are always conscious of overcoming difficulties and challenges to build a unit that meets new mission requirements.

Continue innovation and integration

Director Nguyen Hong Linh affirmed that Lang Son Customs is determined to implement the "Customer Service Charter " and the action motto "Professionalism - Transparency - Efficiency", tighten discipline and labour discipline, strive to complete assigned tasks, promote all resources of Lang Son Customs to create synergy, contributing to economic and tourism development in Lang Son province in general and creating the image of Lang Son Customs Department in the eyes of the business community and world friends in particular.

In the coming time, Lang Son Customs will proactively review and research to propose adjustments, additions and improvements to mechanisms and policies in the customs field following the practical situation in Lang Son province; further, promote reform and modernization, increase IT application, reduce customs clearance time, and promptly resolve legitimate requests from businesses; strengthen customs control, combat smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods, ensure a favourable and transparent business environment; closely coordinate with other forces to ensure border gate security; ensure import and export activities secure, safe, and comply accordance with the law. In addition, Lang Son Customs will pay attention to building clean and strong Parties and unions and try to build a contingent of Customs officers with good expertise, professional working style, discipline and integrity.

Promoting the 70-year tradition of building and growing Lang Son Customs, under the leadership and direction of the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Customs, Party Committees, and authorities of Lang Son province, motivated by efforts, creativity and determination, it is certain that Lang Son Customs will continue to fulfil assigned political tasks successfully, meeting the increasing requirements for the sector in the new period.