Government revenue from import and export increased by 16.5%.

On May 11th, the Customs Department announced that state budget revenue for the first four months of 2026 reached VND 166,301 billion, equivalent to 36.9% of the projected target (VND 451,000 billion), 32.2% of the striving target (VND 516,500 billion), and an increase of 16.5% compared to the same period in 2025, corresponding to an increase of VND 23,563 billion.

Báo Tin Tức•11/05/2026

Photo caption — Trucks line up to clear customs at the Bac Luan II Bridge, Mong Cai International Border Gate. Photo: Thanh Van/TTXVN.

According to the Customs Department, merchandise exports in the first four months of the year reached US$169.02 billion, an increase of 20.1% compared to the same period last year, equivalent to an increase of US$28.26 billion. Imports reached US$176.66 billion, an increase of 29.5%, equivalent to an increase of US$40.21 billion. Total merchandise exports and imports reached US$345.68 billion, an increase of 24.7%, equivalent to an increase of US$68.47 billion compared to the same period in 2025.

Along with trade growth, smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal transportation of goods across borders continue to be complex issues. Prominent among these are the illegal trafficking of gold and diesel fuel along the central border with Laos and the southwestern river route bordering Cambodia; and the trafficking of prohibited goods such as pangolin scales and frozen food of unknown origin along the northern border with China.

Maritime routes continued to account for the largest proportion of violations, with 1,237 cases out of a total of 2,152 detected, seized, and processed, representing 57.5%, a 75.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Violations were mainly concentrated at major seaports such as Cat Lai, Hai Phong, Cai Mep, and Da Nang , involving the import of counterfeit goods, infringement of industrial property rights, or the import of goods requiring licenses without proper permits.

Along the river routes bordering Cambodia, there has been a surge in the illegal transportation of diesel fuel, disguised on boats and barges carrying vegetables and fruits.

The road transport sector recorded 597 violations, accounting for 27.7% of the total number of cases, an increase of 32.1% compared to the same period in 2025. These incidents were concentrated along the Vietnam-China, Vietnam-Laos, and Vietnam-Cambodia borders. The perpetrators exploited policies facilitating trade and preferential treatment for border residents to smuggle and illegally transport goods.

Notably, the illegal trade and transportation of refined sugar, drugs, and counterfeit goods remains a complex issue along the Vietnam-Laos border. Meanwhile, in the northern border region bordering China, the transportation of frozen food without proper documentation is on the rise.

Some typical cases include: the illegal transportation of 400 liters of diesel fuel hidden in a tractor-trailer being exported to Laos at the Lao Bao international border gate; the seizure of 1,400 liters of diesel fuel disguised in a shipment of beer exported at the La Lay international border gate; the discovery of 2,400 synthetic drug pills hidden in milk cartons being transported from Laos to Vietnam via the Lao Bao border gate; the seizure of 59.2 kg of pangolin scales in Cao Bang and 84 N2O gas cylinders at the Hoanh Mo border gate.

On air routes, customs forces detected and handled 107 violations, a 24.4% increase compared to the same period last year, with the value of the seized goods estimated at approximately 16.7 billion VND. The cases mainly occurred at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, and Da Nang international airports.

For express delivery and postal services, customs authorities detected and handled 190 cases, a 150% increase compared to the same period in 2025, with the value of seized goods amounting to approximately 158.2 billion VND. Typical cases included the transportation of 5 kg of cocaine hidden in capsules via air freight from Thailand to Vietnam; 5.4 kg of marijuana concealed in bags of dried shrimp exported to Taiwan; and 13.7 kg of ketamine from Germany to Vietnam.

In response to these developments, the Customs Department issued numerous directives to strengthen control over smuggling of petroleum products, gold, and narcotics; it also warned against methods of concealing and transporting cocaine via air routes and organized professional training for local units.

In its role as the permanent agency of the Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Trade Fraud, and Counterfeit Goods of the Ministry of Finance , the Customs Department also advised on the issuance of the Steering Committee's operational regulations; reported on the results of the anti-smuggling campaign before, during, and after the Lunar New Year in 2026; and reported to the Prime Minister on the inspection and control of petroleum business activities.

From March 15th to April 14th, customs forces detected, seized, and processed 2,152 violations, a 61.8% increase compared to the same period last year; the value of the seized goods was estimated at 1,720 billion VND. Customs authorities referred 15 cases for prosecution, a 25% increase, and collected 76.2 billion VND for the state budget.

From December 15, 2025 to April 14, 2026, the entire customs sector detected, seized, and processed 7,029 violations, with the value of the seized goods estimated at VND 6,486.8 billion; initiated legal proceedings in 4 cases, transferred 43 cases for prosecution, and collected VND 277.5 billion for the state budget.

Regarding drug prevention and control, from March 15 to April 14, 2026, customs forces, in coordination with the police and border guards, detected and arrested 17 cases involving 23 individuals, seizing approximately 62.7 kg of various types of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, and synthetic drugs.

From December 15, 2025 to April 14, 2026, the entire customs sector detected and apprehended 63 cases involving 81 individuals, seizing approximately 306.7 kg of various types of drugs.