Customs Region VIII: Tradition and Aspiration

On September 10, 1945, just 8 days after President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Minister of the Interior Vo Nguyen Giap signed Decree No. 27/SL establishing the Department of Customs and Excise, marking the birth of Vietnam Customs. From that sacred historical milestone, throughout 80 years of construction and development, Quang Ninh Customs - now the Customs Branch of Region VIII has continuously grown, affirming its important role in the development of Quang Ninh province as well as making worthy contributions to the glorious journey of Vietnam Customs.

Historical Marks

In 2005, Quang Ninh Customs was honored to receive the title of Labor Hero in the renovation period. Photo courtesy

In Quang Ninh, the borderland of the Fatherland, the history of the Customs Branch of Region VIII is closely linked to the development history of the heroic mining area and the Vietnam Customs sector. On December 15, 1954, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decree No. 140 establishing the Hai Ninh Customs Branch, opening a separate development path for the Customs force in the area. Just a few months later, on May 27, 1955, the Hong Quang Customs Branch was also established, managing the Hong Gai and Quang Yen areas. On October 30, 1963, Quang Ninh province was officially established on the basis of merging Hai Ninh and Hong Quang. Along with that, on February 8, 1964, the Ministry of Foreign Trade issued Decision No. 47 establishing the Quang Ninh Customs Branch, merging the Hong Quang Customs Branch and the Hai Ninh Customs Department. From here, Quang Ninh Customs gradually became the core force in managing, controlling, and serving the socio-economic development of the Northeast region of the Fatherland.

During the resistance war against the US to save the country (1964-1975), Quang Ninh Customs forces, together with the local army and people, steadfastly held their ground, both fighting to protect the port and border gates, and flexibly handling customs procedures, ensuring production and defense supplies. Customs officers are always proud of the spirit of "sticking to the port, sticking to the ships, sticking to the goods, sticking to the border gates", contributing to the overall victory of the nation.

Quang Ninh Customs evacuated to a cave, steadfastly holding on to fight to protect the port and border gate, while flexibly handling customs procedures, ensuring production and defense supplies. Photo courtesy

Entering the period of innovation, Quang Ninh Customs quickly adapted, taking the lead in reforming state management of customs, creating an open environment for trade, investment and tourism . In 1985, Quang Ninh Customs Sub-Department was renamed Quang Ninh Customs, operating regularly and systematically in all three areas: Supervision and management, import-export tax collection and anti-smuggling. Particularly in anti-smuggling work, Quang Ninh Customs achieved many positive results, especially many typical cases during this period were recognized and highly appreciated such as the Thuan Hai ship case (1992), the 9 LASH barge case (5/1993)...

By 1994, the unit changed its name to Quang Ninh Provincial Customs Department. The apparatus consisted of 6 staff offices, 8 border gate units and 2 specialized control teams for land and sea routes. In 1998, the Customs force on duty at the Joint Control Station Km15 - Dan Tien Wharf was applied a pilot model as a unit under the Department. In August 1998, Bac Phong Sinh Customs Branch was established, increasing the total number of affiliated and subordinate units to 17.

The year 2025 marks a new turning point: implementing the policy of streamlining the apparatus, the Quang Ninh Provincial Customs Department was consolidated into the Regional Customs Branch VIII - one of 20 regional branches of Vietnam Customs. With 13 organizational units, more than 550 officials, civil servants, and employees, the force today continues to promote its glorious tradition, maintaining its role as "gatekeeper of the economy" in the Northeast, managing 3 international and national road border gates (Mong Cai, Hoanh Mo, Bac Phong Sinh), and 3 important seaport border gates (Hon Gai, Cam Pha, Van Gia).

Steady steps of integration

Comrade Vu Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, presented the Decision of the Provincial Party Committee on the establishment of the Party Committee of the Customs Branch of Region VIII (June 2025).

From the early days with a few dozen officers, up to now, on the journey of 80 years of integration and development, the Customs Branch of Region VIII has become a powerful, professional force, trained through war and matured in the process of innovation and international integration. Especially in the context of many fluctuations in global trade, Quang Ninh still maintains an impressive growth rate.

During the period from 1986 to 1993, Quang Ninh Customs inspected, supervised, and processed procedures for 3,041 vehicles entering and exiting the country, 10.8 million tons of goods, collected more than 474 billion VND in import and export taxes; arrested 234 smuggling cases with a value of 26.31 billion VND in violation goods. From 1994 to 2004, procedures were processed for 130,420 vehicles entering and exiting the country, more than 19 million passengers entering and exiting the country; the value of goods reached 6.5 billion USD; the budget revenue reached more than 15,000 billion VND; arrested 9,209 smuggling cases with a value of 135.675 billion VND.

From 2004 to 2014, tax collection reached 117,553 billion VND. The result of import-export tax collection each year is always higher than the previous year and always ranks in the top 5 provinces and cities leading in budget revenue nationwide. In the period 2015-2020, import-export activities grew steadily, from more than 55,000 declarations (in 2015) to nearly 90,000 declarations (in 2020), an average increase of 7.5%/year. Import-export turnover fluctuates from 10-15 billion USD/year. The average annual budget revenue reaches over 9,000 billion VND, accounting for over 90% of the total state budget revenue in Quang Ninh province.

Comrade Trinh Thi Minh Thanh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Quang Ninh province presented a banner to the Provincial Customs Department (December 2024).

In the 2021-2024 period, import-export turnover through the area increased by an average of 16.6% per year, from 12.9 billion USD (2021) to 18.7 billion USD (2024). In 2023 alone, despite the decline in world trade, the province's turnover still reached nearly 16 billion USD, demonstrating efforts to overcome difficulties and accompany businesses. Customs Region VIII has been in the leading group nationwide in terms of budget revenue from import-export activities for many consecutive years. In the past 2 years, the number of enterprises participating in import-export activities in the province has increased dramatically. In 2024, there were 2,312 enterprises, attracting more than 1,100 new enterprises. In the first 8 months of 2025 alone, 1,048 new enterprises were attracted. The figures clearly show the business community's confidence in the import-export environment in Quang Ninh and the service quality of the Customs Branch of Region VIII. This is a clear demonstration of effective management capacity, while also making an important contribution to the socio-economic development resources of the province and the country.

The accompanying activities to support businesses are flexibly and effectively implemented by Quang Ninh Customs - Customs Region VIII, creating trust and attracting businesses to participate in import and export.

With a system of border gates and seaports that are strictly and transparently managed, it has created trust in the business community. In 2024, up to 2,046 businesses participated in customs procedures through the area, an increase of 30% compared to the previous year. The total number of declarations processed reached 168,920, an increase of 20% compared to 2023. This figure once again shows the growing attractiveness of Quang Ninh to investors, as well as the reform efforts and timely support of the customs force.

Identifying administrative reform as a strategic breakthrough, Customs Region VIII has effectively implemented e-customs, applied risk management, post-clearance inspection... Thereby shortening customs clearance time, saving costs for businesses, and improving the provincial competitiveness index. These efforts have contributed to helping Quang Ninh top the PCI and DDCI rankings for many consecutive years. Not only that, with its key border location, Quang Ninh is always a complicated area for smuggling, trade fraud, and drug crimes. In the period of 2023-2025, Quang Ninh Customs coordinated with the Police, Border Guard, and Coast Guard to exchange 475 professional information, detected and handled 231 smuggling cases, 97 drug cases, and dozens of cases of social order violations. Many major cases have been solved, contributing to maintaining border security and ensuring a healthy investment and business environment.

The Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Committee Party Committee presented the decision and flowers to congratulate the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Customs Branch of Region VIII for the 2025-2030 term.

Throughout history, from wartime to peacetime, from the subsidy period to the renovation period and until now, Quang Ninh Customs or now Region VIII Customs has always completed and excellently completed its tasks, promoting the role of "gatekeeper of the economy" under the banner of "Protecting national interests and sovereignty". Thanks to its positive contributions, Region VIII Customs has always been evaluated as a typical and advanced unit of the industry and the province and received many noble awards: First, Second and Third Class Labor Medals (1985, 1991, 1995); Third Class Independence Medal (2000); 2 Third Class Feat Medals (1998); the title "Hero of Labor in the renovation period" (2005); for many consecutive years, it has received the Emulation Flag awarded by the Prime Minister for its leading achievements in the Customs sector and many other noble awards.

After 80 years of glorious journey, the Customs sector is entering a period of comprehensive reform, aiming at the goal of building a Digital Customs, Green Customs, and Smart Customs according to the Development Strategy to 2030. Accompanying that process, Quang Ninh Customs - Customs Branch of Region VIII continues to innovate, inherit and promote tradition and solidarity; build a clean and strong Party organization; organize forces according to the motto "Lean - Strong - Effective, Effective, Efficient". The team of customs officers constantly trains their qualities, mettle, prestige, professionalism, transparency, adapting to the requirements of international integration, contributing with the entire political system of Quang Ninh province and the entire Customs sector to successfully realize the goals of the Resolution and the Customs Development Strategy to 2030.

Hoang Nga

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/hai-quan-khu-vuc-viii-truyen-thong-va-khat-vong-3374467.html