Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked ministries to strengthen the management of temporary import of cars of individuals who enjoy privileges and tax exemptions in Vietnam. Illustrative photo According to the General Department of Customs, in addition to the import of cars through commercial orders of domestic businesses, there are thousands of cars that are annually imported under privileges and exemptions by embassies, foreign diplomatic missions and international agencies or organisations operating in Vietnam. Hue’s request was sent out to the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security and Transport. He asked the ministries to strictly penalise the abusive action of importing cars for commercial purposes and propose amendments and supplements to current regulations to enhance State management and compliance with real requirements. Currently, imported vehicles under privileges and exemptions are provided with a foreign number plate and are exempted from taxes and fees. These vehicles are under the management of foreign organisations and individuals in Vietnam. There are three groups of subjects that are allowed to temporarily import autos without incurring any fee — diplomatic missions, consult offices and representative agencies of international organisations in Vietnam. They enjoy privileges and exemptions in accordance with international rulings that Vietnam is committed to. In addition to this, diplomatic officials, administrative and technical staff members of diplomatic missions, consulars and officials of Vietnam-based international organisations also enjoy similar privileges and immunities under international treaties which Vietnam has signed or acceded to. Because of such a large scale of preferences and immunity,… [Read full story]
Vietnam Customs tightens controls on car importsQuoc Hung HCMC – The General Department of Vietnam Customs has asked provincial customs agencies to strengthen checks on completely-built-up (CBU) auto imports from ASEAN countries and India to prevent any attempts to falsify certificates of origin by traders to enjoy low tariffs. Local customs agencies are urged to take measures to verify the origin of CBU units subject to preferential tax rates under Vietnam’s free trade agreements with these aforesaid nations in line with the prevailing regulations. If local customs officers suspect the validity of certificates of origin (C/O) and customs documents, they…... [read more]
Insiders say the crackdown will curb abuse of diplomatic plates by unauthorized people and will not pose problems for diplomatic agencies A car with diplomatic license plate on a street in downtown Hanoi. The government has issued a decision to tighten the management of such cars as many locals are using the vehicles without registrations to avoid taxes and enjoy diplomatic privileges. Photo by Ngoc Thang In 2008, Nguyen Ngoc Khoa bought a car from a foreign diplomat who was leaving Vietnam after his term ended. Khoa did not register the crossover and continued to use the car's diplomatic license…... [read more]
To date, the circular guiding the implementation of the decree has not been issued. Therefore, waiting is the only choice for enterprises. No cars have been imported to Vietnam since the beginning of the year. As imports still have not arrived, the prices of favorite models have been escalating. The situation is not expected to improve in the next three months. However, Tuan said domestically made products can satisfy domestic demand. Vietnamese tend to buy valuable assets on the days before the new lunar new year. However, despite increased demand, the prices of products made by domestic joint ventures remain…... [read more]
The Customs Department of the northern province of Ha Tinh has asked local police to seize two diplomatic cars used by two Vietnamese-Americans accused of evading paying relevant taxes on the vehicles. The two diplomats, Dinh Duc Huy and Nancy Pham Dinh, were licensed by the Ha Tinh Customs Department in October 2004 to temporarily import two cars to Vietnam to use during the time they worked at a branch of the Hanoi-based American Vietnam Technologies Co., Ltd in the province, news website Vietnamnet reported December 24. Under current regulations, a foreign diplomat is allowed to import a car for…... [read more]
Vietnam imported around 7,000 completely-built-up (CBU) motor vehicles worth $200 million in November, according to the latest report from the General Statistics Office (GSO).Total CBU imports in the first eleven months of the year reached 84,000, worth $1.9 billion, down 14.7 per cent in volume and 11.4 per cent in value year-on-year.CBU imports in November, meanwhile, recovered in both volume and value compared to October. In September and October, CBU imports were worth $155 million and $165 million, respectively, on volumes of around 6,000 units in total; the lowest rates for two years.The recovery in CBU imports in November is…... [read more]
