In October 2021, the total import and export value of Vietnam's goods was estimated at $53.5 billion, down 0.4% compared to the previous month. In particular, the total export value is estimated at $27.3 billion, up 1%, the total import value is estimated at $26.2 billion, down 1.7% compared to the previous month.

Hence, in ten months, the total import-export value of Vietnam is expected to reach $537.32 billion, up 22.2% over the same period in 2020. In particular, the total export value is estimated at $267.93 billion, up 16.6%, and total import value is estimated at $269.38 billion, up 28.2%.

Vietnam's merchandise trade balance in October 2021 is estimated to witness a surplus of $1.1 billion. In general, in the first 10 months of 2021, Vietnam still experienced trade deficit of $1.45 billion, in contrast to the trade surplus of $19.63 billion in 10 months of last year.

The FDI sector in October 2021 had a total import-export value estimated at $37.8 billion, declining slightly by 1% compared to the previous month. In particular, exports were estimated at $20.2 billion, an increase of 1.8% compared to the previous month; imports were $17.6 billion, down 4.1%.

Moreover, in the first 10 months of 2021, the FDI sector has an estimated import-export value of $373.65 billion, accounting for 70% of the country's total import-export value and up 25.3% over the same period last year. In particular, the total export value of this business sector is estimated at $196.77 billion, up 20.3% over the same period in 2020 and the import value is estimated at $176.88 billion, up 31.3%.

In October, many institutional reform activities and administrative procedures continued to be actively developed and completed by the Customs sector.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has actively coordinated with relevant units such as ministries, sectors, Government Office and units under the Ministry of Finance in developing and finalizing draft documents and strictly following the prescribed order and procedures.

Accordingly, the Decree stipulates the management mechanism, methods, order and procedures of quality inspection and food safety inspection for imported goods; Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 08/2015/ND-CP dated January 21, 2015; Decree on customs management of imported and exported goods transacted via e-commerce; Decree stipulates the connection and sharing of information in the field of export, import, exit, entry and transit of goods, people and means of transport under the National Single Window.

At the same time, the General Department of Vietnam Customs also submitted to the Ministry of Finance for promulgation Circular No. 82/2021/TT-BTC dated September 30, 2021, stipulating customs supervision of imported goods and transferred from border gate to border gate in the case that imported goods are congested or at risk of congestion at seaports where social distancing is implemented in that province in accordance with Directive No. 16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2021 of the Prime Minister on taking urgent measures to prevent fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

In administrative reform, General Department of Vietnam Customs strictly and effectively implemented Notice No. 589/TB-BTC dated August 23, 2021 of the Ministry of Finance on the assignment of tasks to implement solutions to further promote the reform of regulations related to business activities, attract foreign investment, improve the business environment, improve Vietnam's competitiveness and Notice No. 673 /TB-BTC dated October 1, 2021 on the development of a decentralization scheme in handling administrative procedures; gathering feedback, recommendations and consultations on regulations related to business activities; send to the Business Association a survey form on the current situation of providing and implementing administrative procedures of enterprises in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic at the request of the Ministry of Finance; commenting on the Plan on reducing and simplifying regulations related to business activities of the Ministry of Industry and Trade following Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP dated May 12, 2020 of the Government.

Completing the grading, ranking and announcing the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) in 2020 of the units under the General Department of Vietnam Customs, and at the same time, directing units to overcome the success criteria of the deducted portion of the 2020 PAR Index.

In addition, the General Department of Vietnam Customs continues to coordinate with the Trade Facilitation Program project to complete the dossier of assessing the impact of administrative procedures in the draft Decree stipulating the management mechanism, methods, order and procedures for state inspection of quality and state inspection of food safety for imported goods.