Ceremony to present decisions recognizing and extending the application of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) regime and to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Vietnam’s AEO Program.

On September 29, 2026, in Hanoi, the Customs Department held a ceremony to present decisions recognizing and extending the application of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) regime, while marking the 15th anniversary of Vietnam’s AEO Program.

From the first 9 enterprises in 2011, Vietnam now has 74 AEOs operating in a wide range of key import-export sectors, including electronics, high technology, industrial manufacturing, textiles and garments, agriculture and fisheries. Notably, 10 AEOs operate in high-tech manufacturing and the semiconductor sector.

Although accounting for a very small proportion of the import-export business community, AEOs contribute approximately one-third of the country’s total import-export turnover. During 2022-2025, the import-export turnover of this group consistently exceeded USD 230 billion per year, equivalent to approximately 28-34% of the country’s total turnover. In 2025, it reached approximately USD 256.63 billion; in the first six months of 2026 alone, it reached approximately USD 164.52 billion, equivalent to around 30% of the country’s total import-export turnover.

These figures show that AEOs are present at large-scale links in the economy’s trade, production and supply chain activities.

Reducing Time and Costs from Customs Clearance

Implemented since 2011 and officially codified in the 2014 Customs Law, the AEO Program marked a shift in the customs management approach toward classification based on compliance and risk levels.

For businesses, the clearest value of this mechanism lies in its ability to reduce time and costs arising during the import-export process. Businesses benefit from various trade facilitation measures relating to customs procedures, inspection, tax administration, post-clearance audits and facilitation mechanisms under Mutual Recognition Arrangements for Authorized Economic Operators (MRAs).

For businesses with large import-export turnover, production operations dependent on imported raw materials and components, or international delivery deadlines to meet, every step shortened in the customs clearance process can have a direct impact on production plans and cash flow.

Reducing inspection rates, prioritizing customs clearance and shortening processing times help businesses become more proactive in managing inventories, production plans, logistics and order fulfillment. More broadly, these are factors that contribute to reducing logistics costs and enhancing the ability to meet increasingly demanding requirements of global supply chains.

According to Mr. Trần Đức Hùng, Deputy Director General of the Customs Department, the AEO Program is an important reform, contributing to a fundamental shift in customs management from traditional to modern methods. After 15 years, the AEO community has grown strongly, becoming important links in global supply chains.

However, procedural benefits always come with compliance requirements. AEOs must maintain compliance with customs laws, operate effective internal control systems, ensure that the conditions for applying the preferential regime are met, and coordinate with customs authorities in inspection, supervision and risk management.

This is also the core distinction of the AEO model: businesses do not receive preferential treatment merely on the basis of their scale or turnover, but must demonstrate management, control and compliance capabilities throughout their operations.

The legal framework continued to be strengthened in 2025 with Law No. 90/2025/QH15, Decree No. 167/2025/NĐ-CP, Circular No. 121/2025/TT-BTC and relevant implementing regulations. Among other things, requirements for internal controls, supply chain security and responsibility for maintaining compliance have been strengthened, while facilitation mechanisms have been expanded for high-tech enterprises and certain strategic technology sectors.

Post-recognition supervision has also been strengthened. In 2025, customs authorities temporarily suspended preferential status for 4 enterprises and suspended or terminated preferential status for 3 enterprises. This mechanism demonstrates that customs preferences are neither automatic nor indefinite benefits. To maintain procedural advantages, businesses must continuously invest in management systems, internal controls and compliance capabilities.

Expanding Advantages from the Border Gate to International Markets

To date, Vietnam has signed 2 MRAs with ASEAN and South Korea; it completed implementation of Phase 1 of the ASEAN MRA on March 31, 2026, and Phase 2 on June 30, 2026. Vietnam Customs continues to implement the Vietnam-South Korea MRA, while studying bilateral and multilateral cooperation with China and other partners.

For businesses participating in cross-border supply chains, recognition of their compliance status in multiple markets can create additional facilitation in the trading process. When procedures are simplified, processing times shortened and inspection levels managed based on risk, businesses gain greater room to optimize costs and enhance competitiveness.

This is particularly significant for electronics, high-tech and industrial manufacturing businesses, as well as enterprises with international supply networks, where delivery speed and the stability of material flows directly affect production efficiency.

At the ceremony, the Customs Department presented decisions recognizing and extending AEO status for 7 enterprises. Of these, 3 enterprises were newly recognized: Hana Micron Vina Co., Ltd., Luxshare-ICT (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. and Samju Vina Co., Ltd.; 4 enterprises had their status extended: Minh Phu Hau Giang Seafood Joint Stock Corporation, Hoa Sen Group Joint Stock Company, Hoya Glass Disk Vietnam Co., Ltd. and LG Electronics Vietnam Hai Phong Co., Ltd.

The emergence of more enterprises in the high-tech, electronics and semiconductor sectors among AEOs also demonstrates the increasingly clear need for a fast, transparent customs mechanism capable of international connectivity. For industries with short production cycles, high-value goods and cross-border supply networks, costs arising from delays at border gates can directly affect business efficiency.

In the coming period, Vietnam Customs aims to develop the AEO Program in greater depth, linking facilitation with compliance management, risk management, digital transformation and supply chain security. This will be accompanied by an expansion of eligibility to high-tech enterprises and businesses with strong management and compliance capabilities, as well as increased mutual recognition with international partners.

After 15 years, the focus of the AEO Program is shifting from expanding the number of participants to improving quality and effectiveness. For businesses, the benefits lie not only in a single shortened procedure, but in their ability to build a sufficiently reliable management system in exchange for greater facilitation in international trade.

For customs authorities, this model helps shift the focus from broad-based inspection to risk-based management, allowing greater resources to be devoted to areas with a high risk of violations. This approach is consistent with requirements for procedural reform, digital transformation and international trade integration. As global trade places increasing emphasis on speed, predictability and costs, a transparent, easy-to-implement customs mechanism based on compliance will become part of a country’s competitiveness. The AEO Program, therefore, is not merely a matter of preferential procedures, but also a link in the process of building a more favorable business environment for Vietnamese enterprises.