Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng presents the First-Class Feat of Arms Order to the Customs Department

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng; Nguyễn Đức Kiên – former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, former Director General of the General Department of Customs; Deputy Ministers of Finance including Nguyễn Đức Chi, Lê Tấn Cận, and Bùi Văn Khắng, along with generations of leaders of Vietnam Customs across different periods.

The Glorious History of Vietnam Customs

Speaking at the event, Director of the Customs Department Nguyễn Văn Thọ affirmed: 80 years of building and development have been a difficult and challenging journey, marked by the tireless dedication of generations of customs officers, officials, and employees. This is a source of immense pride and a solid foundation to continue writing the glorious history of Vietnam Customs today.

Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng delivers a speech at the ceremony

Over the past 80 years, from a force primarily tasked with tax collection and combating smuggling in its early days, Vietnam Customs has grown into a modern state management authority, deeply integrated into the global system, facilitating trade, making important contributions to economic growth, inflation control, and macroeconomic stability, while safeguarding national security and border sovereignty. At every stage, Vietnam Customs has remained steadfast in its mission of “Protecting national interests and sovereignty.”

Recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of the Customs force throughout its 80-year journey, the Party and the State have awarded numerous high honors to collectives and individuals in the sector, including the Hồ Chí Minh Order, the Independence Order, the Labor Order, as well as many other emulation titles and commendations. These accolades are a testament to the solidarity, resilience, intelligence, and enduring dedication of generations of customs officers, officials, and employees across the sector.

Strategy for Developing Smart Customs

Discussing the development orientation of the sector in the coming period, Director Nguyễn Văn Thọ stated: Entering the nation’s “Era of Rising,” with intertwined opportunities and challenges, Vietnam Customs has identified the “four pillars” – the Politburo’s Resolutions on developing science and technology, promoting the private economy, perfecting the legal system, and enhancing international integration – as guiding principles for action. The Customs sector is determined to successfully implement the goals approved by the Prime Minister under the Customs Development Strategy to 2030.

Director of the Customs Department Nguyễn Văn Thọ

To achieve this goal, Vietnam Customs will continue to improve the legal framework on customs in a comprehensive and modern manner, in line with practical requirements and international integration; enhance the effectiveness of management and law enforcement; promptly address bottlenecks; and accelerate administrative procedure reforms, placing businesses and citizens at the center of service.

The sector also remains committed to promoting reform, modernization, and comprehensive digital transformation, with determination to successfully build and implement the Digital Customs and Smart Customs models. This includes broad application of modern technologies in customs management, supervision, inspection, and control; upgrading digital infrastructure; strengthening the use of artificial intelligence and big data in risk management and automated processing. At the same time, it will enhance the effectiveness of state management in customs, ensure economic security and national sovereignty, and proactively and strictly control import-export goods and cross-border vehicles.

Delivering his directive speech at the ceremony, Minister of Finance Nguyễn Văn Thắng emphasized: The Customs sector must urgently complete the development of Digital Customs and Smart Customs based on science, technology, and innovation, capable of handling all operations automatically and enabling customs procedures to be conducted “anytime – anywhere – on any device.”