In May 2025, customs clearance activities at Vietnam’s major ports have seen notable developments, particularly in the southern region. Key highlights include:

1. Cat Lai Port (Ho Chi Minh City):

• Container backlog: Slight increase of 7% compared to last month due to post-holiday import surge from China.
• Average clearance time: 18–24 hours for full container loads (FCL), remains steady.
• Recommendation: Businesses are advised to file customs early and book online pick-up slots to avoid congestion.

2. Hai Phong Port:

• Clearance progress: Stable, although import declarations involving machinery are subject to tighter inspection under Circular 03/2025/TT-BTC.
• Export volume to the US: Up 12% compared to the same period last year.

3. Lao Cai Border Gate:

• Freight volume: Significant increase due to seasonal agricultural produce, especially lychee and watermelon.
• Solution: Lao Cai Customs has implemented a “green lane” for fresh produce, reducing inspection time to just 4 hours.

Policy Notice:

• From May 15, 2025, the General Department of Customs will pilot the “One-time Declaration – Multi-point Clearance” system at Cai Mep port.
• This policy allows businesses to present customs documents once for multiple connected ports in the same system.