VIETNAM CUSTOMS TO AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGN "YELLOW CHANNEL" DECLARATIONS STARTING JULY 1, 2025

The assignment will be conducted randomly and on a rotational basis among registered officers, regardless of the business entity, declaration type, or product category.

The system operates 24/7, ensuring immediate assignment as soon as a new declaration is submitted—even outside business hours.

Impressive Pilot Results

1. Sub-department Region III, late May 2025:

• - 720 declarations processed, of which 609 were automatically assigned, and only 111 manually handled.
• Notably, 61 declarations submitted outside working hours were still automatically assigned in time.

2. Region IV (May 31 – June 2, 2025):

• All 2,063 Yellow Channel declarations were automatically assigned—helping reduce manual workload and speed up processing.

WHAT BUSINESSES NEED TO NOTE:
Due to the random and rotational nature of the assignment, the customs officer in charge may not be familiar with or fully understand the product characteristics (e.g., machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc.), which may increase the likelihood of a full inspection—i.e., both document review and physical inspection of the goods.

WHAT BUSINESSES SHOULD DO TO MINIMIZE THIS RISK:

• Prepare documents carefully and clearly: Ensure all data is accurate and fully described, including Invoice, Packing List, B/L, technical catalogs, specialized permits, etc.
• Highlight special product characteristics: Include key information such as origin, technical standards, and related licenses in the description section so officers can understand the item at a glance without suspicion.
• Be ready to clarify promptly when needed: If the customs officer asks questions or requests clarification, the business should be ready to respond quickly—either through the customs broker or directly—to avoid unnecessary full inspections.