New point in managing duty free goods: Buying at Vietnam, receiving in oversea

Duty free shop at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: N.Linh

Previously, implementing the Government's work programme in 2019, the Ministry of Finance was assigned to chair the development of a decree amending and supplementing several articles of Decree No. 167/2018/ND-CP, of that, the General Departmentof Vietnam Customs was assigned to build and complete the draft.

On November 27, 2019, the Government Office issued Official Letter No. 10854/VPCP-KTTH announcing the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue to assign the Ministry of Finance to work with other ministries and agencies to draft a new decree replacing Decree No. 167/2016/ND-CP of the Government dated December 27, 2016 about operating duty-free goods.

In particular, one of the contents required by Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue was supplementing regulations about customers buy duty free goods in Vietnam but receiving goods overseas at Point d, Clause 1, Article 1 of the Draft Decree need to be carefully reviewed to ensure the feasibility of the decree when issued by the Government.

Until now, the Ministry of Finance has completed the draft and reported to the Government and draft decree for replacing.

Regarding the regulation that customers buy duty free goods in Vietnam but receiving goods overseas, at the meetings with representatives of a number of units (Government Office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Ministry of Finance), on December 13, the General Department of Vietnam Customs said this was a service in the operation of duty free shops to enrich the form of delivery to customers, the content of provisions tending to the appropriation in line with diverse development of this service.

To deliver goods to overseas customers, the draft clearly stated that enterprises must open export declarations (as in the case of managing exported goods). As for the delivery in Vietnam, the enterprise does not have to open an export declaration, but on the basis of sales invoices and documents related to the buyer, the customs authority would supervise delivery for guests in isolated areas at the export border gate.

Regarding international practices, through researching the system of duty-free shops around the world, there were a number of duty-free shops of Heinemann (Germany) in some European countries. In the Heinemann duty-free shops system, there were services like before three months, customers can order online on Heinemann's website or buy directly at Heinemann duty-free shops and goods would be delivered to the address of customers in Germany as requested.

However, with this content, some said it was necessary to supplement strict regulations to avoid being taken advantage of. Continuing acquiring the opinions of representatives of units, Deputy Director General of Vietnam Customs Mai Xuan Thanh said with this content, the General Department of Vietnam Customs would report to clearly state management measures.