Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Data released by the Vietnam Customs Department on May 11 shows that in the first four months of 2026, the country's fiscal revenue reached VND 166.301 trillion, achieving 36.9% of the annual budget (VND 451 trillion) and 32.2% of the annual target (VND 516.5 trillion), representing a 16.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025, or an increase of VND 23.563 trillion.
Regarding foreign trade, in the first four months, Vietnam's merchandise exports reached USD 169.02 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20.1%, or USD 28.26 billion; imports reached USD 176.66 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29.5%, or USD 40.21 billion; the total import and export value reached USD 345.68 billion, a year-on-year increase of 24.7%, or USD 68.47 billion compared to the same period last year.
Despite the expansion of foreign trade, the situation regarding smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal cross-border transportation remains complex. The most prominent problems are concentrated in three border areas: the central region bordering Laos and the southwestern region bordering Cambodia via waterways, involving the illegal transportation of gold and diesel fuel; and the northern region bordering China, involving the cross-border circulation of prohibited items such as pangolin scales and frozen foods of unknown origin.
In terms of the distribution of shipping routes in these cases, maritime routes accounted for the largest share. In the first four months of the year, Vietnamese customs investigated 2,152 related cases, of which 1,237 were maritime cases (57.5%, a year-on-year increase of 75.9%), 597 were road cases (27.7%, a year-on-year increase of 32.1%), 107 were air cases (a year-on-year increase of 24.4%), involving goods valued at approximately VND 16.7 billion; and 190 were express and postal freight cases (a significant year-on-year increase of 150%), involving goods valued at approximately VND 158.2 billion.
Notably, multiple drug smuggling cases were uncovered on express and postal freight routes, including 5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in capsules and transported from Thailand to Vietnam by air; 5.4 kilograms of marijuana concealed in dried shrimp bags and destined for Taiwan; and 13.7 kilograms of ketamine shipped from Germany to Vietnam. Furthermore, the illegal transport of diesel fuel disguised as vegetables and fruits on waterways along the Cambodian border is particularly prominent.
In response to this serious situation, the Vietnam Customs Department has issued several guidance documents, focusing on strengthening smuggling control over key commodities such as gasoline, gold, and drugs. It has also issued warnings regarding new smuggling methods involving cocaine concealed on air routes and organized specialized training for local customs units to curb all types of cross-border illegal activities. (End)
