📋 Tender Overview
Digital transformation is becoming a core foundation in the modernization process of Vietnam Customs, contributing to the transition from a manual management model to an operating model based on data and smart technology. Representatives of Region VI Customs discussed experiences in building Digital Customs - a stepping stone towards building a Smart Customs and Smart Border Gate model. The application of advanced digital technologies not only helps improve management efficiency, increase transparency and reduce customs clearance time, but also expand the ability to forecast, analyze risks and detect potential violations before they arise. Digital transformation helps shorten customs clearance time and reduce costs for businesses. According to the Customs Departments assessment, the Customs agencys digital transformation process has undergone extensive digitalization. The VNACCS/VCIS system is currently considered a central tool in managing electronic declarations and automating customs clearance. Since the beginning of 2025, the Customs agency has improved the centralized information technology system, improving the ability to process and connect data within the industry to serve digital transformation. Statistics show that currently, 100% of basic customs procedures are digitized, and the rate of businesses participating in the system reaches about 99.65%. The National Single Window (NSW) has integrated over 250 administrative procedures of 13 ministries and branches. In addition, the Customs agency has officially exchanged electronic form D certificate of origin information with 9 ASEAN countries through the ASEAN Single Window. The level of procedural automation has created quick green channels, in which qualified shipments can be cleared through customs in just 1-3 seconds, creating a jump in performance compared to before. The Customs sector has also applied container scanning equipment, electronic positioning seal systems and online monitoring to enhance post-clearance control. A specific example at Mong Cai international border gate, as of September 15, 2025, has processed 78,828 declarations with a turnover of more than 4.188 billion USD, an increase of 20% in the number of declarations and 34% in turnover compared to the same period in 2024 thanks to the application of Using automation systems and electronic processes at border gates. The above achievements help shorten customs clearance time, reduce costs for businesses, increase transparency and improve risk control effectiveness. Businesses rarely have to wait for documents, the online information provision system and green channel processing mechanism help significantly reduce unnecessary delays. The Customs agency also sets a goal of implementing complete digital transformation by 2025 with 100% of procedures, documents and professional records converted into digital data; 100% level 4 online public services for high-demand procedures. However, limitations still clearly exist. Data between ministries, branches and customs branches is not completely synchronized, leading to information fragmentation and duplication in declarations. Despite the risk-streaming system, many inspection decisions still rely on manual rather than intelligent data analysis models. In addition, technology human resources at some local departments do not meet the requirements for skills in big data management, information security and artificial intelligence (AI) application. The VNACCS/VCIS system has been in operation for many years, so there is a need to upgrade to meet future Smart Customs requirements. Modern customs does not stop at automating business processes. The World Customs Organization (WCO) emphasizes that digital transformation is not only the application of information technology, but also the process of restructuring customs business processes, integrating big data, cloud computing and sensor technology to build a smart customs system. At Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance and the Customs Department have identified digital transformation as a key direction in the period 2021-2030. The goal by 2025 is to automate all customs procedures, apply artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and big data in risk management, towards forming a model of Digital Customs and Smart Customs. Accordingly, digital transformation is not only limited to electronic procedures but also includes restructuring the apparatus, optimizing business processes, and connecting inter-sectoral data between customs, taxes, industry and trade and logistics. According to the World Customs Organization World and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), modern customs must not only stop at automating business processes, but must move towards a smart Customs model - where all management, monitoring, forecasting and decision-making activities are based on digital data, artificial intelligence and cross-border information sharing. Customs officers at Noi Bai international airport border gate monitor via camera system. Moving towards a smart Customs model In Vietnam, recently, the Customs agency has thoroughly applied big data platforms and automatic risk analysis. One of the important advances in customs management today is the ability to apply big data (Big Data) to support decision making and risk screening. According to data from the Customs Department, from the beginning of 2025 until now, the Customs agency has screened about 20,000 containers, detecting nearly 1,000 containers with suspicious signs.These numbers show that data mining from electronic customs records, import-export declarations and business compliance history is being used increasingly effectively to guide targeted inspections. However, assessment from the Customs Department shows that the current data analysis process is still mainly based on expert experience, not fully automated, showing great room for deploying machine learning algorithms to predict risks in the
