Over recent years, the Da Nang Customs Department has promoted information technology (IT) applications in handling customs-related procedures for the benefits of importers and exporters, especially foreign-invested businesses.

Cargo being handled at the Da Nang Port

Top priority has been given to accelerating the reform of customs procedures through promoting the electronic customs implementation.  This has led to a significant increase in users of e-customs declaration adoption, and growing revenue from e-customs procedures.

Mr Pham Ai Quoc, the Head of the Import-Export Department of the foreign-invested Sinaran Vietnam Co Ltd at the Son Tra District-based Da Nang Industrial Park, said that his company has received active support from the local customs sector.  The company specialises in producing high quality candles and incense for export to the US and Japan. 

In the past, local businesses had to spend a lot of time doing their tax declarations at the end of each month.  Now, they can implement these procedures at any time, at their workplaces instead of at the local tax offices, and their money is safely transferred via local commercial banks.  This, therefore, has helped local businesses to save time and expense.

Since April 2014, the Department has officially applied the Viet Nam Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System/Viet Nam Customs Information System (VNACCS/VCIS) in the operation of its divisions across the city.

The use of the Japanese-funded system has brought many benefits to both the customs divisions and businesses in the city.  VNACCS is based on a centralised processing model, integrating multiple features and utilities, which helps to make customs procedures quicker and more convenient.  Thanks to the automated steps of declaring, receiving information, tax calculation, checking and streamlining goods, the time for customs clearance is shortened considerably for goods in the green lane.

Since the start of this year, at the Da Nang IP Customs Division, the number of e-customs declaration forms through the system has reached 4,627.  A total of 2,406 billion VND in tax collected from the IP’s businesses went to the State budget this year, up 75.6% against last year.

The Head of the Customs Division of the Da Nang Port’s Border Gate, Mr Nguyen Quang Lang, said that his unit has applied the VNACCS/VCIS over the 3 consecutive years.  Notably, 100% of the businesses have used the e-customs declaration services through the system. 

Since the start of this year, 60% of the e-customs declaration forms through the system at the Division have been classified in the green zone, whilst 30% were yellow zoned and 10 % were red.

In particular, the fourth-class online public service system has been applied at agencies under the management of the municipal Customs Department to implement groups of administrative procedures. 

The intention is to shorten the time taken to deal with administrative procedures, thereby facilitating local residents and businesses to save travel and administration costs, and enhancing transparency of State management activities.