Many repatriated overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu) have had to re-export cars they brought from foreign countries for failing to meet requirements for the importation of vehicles as transferred property.
Many repatriated overseas Vietnamese have had to re-export cars brought from foreign countries for failing to meet the requirements
Recently, customs agencies in Vietnam have received many petitions from Viet Kieu for re-exports. Most of them say that they are still working in foreign countries and so cannot move to live and work permanently in Vietnam.
However, inspections have indicated that their vehicles fail to meet requirements for importation into Vietnam.
In the petition, Mr. D., a Vietnamese American, said that he brought a Lexus to Vietnam in 2012, but after checking import requirements, he knew that he would not meet the requirements because he still works in the US.
All of the cars marked for re-exportation are luxury vehicles.
Under current regulation, overseas Vietnamese who have repatriated will be allowed to bring vehicles with them to Vietnam with VAT and import tax exemptions. They only have to pay a special consumption tax. This has created a price disparity between normally-imported vehicles and those brought by overseas Vietnamese.
Under a proposal drafted by the Finance Ministry, overseas Vietnamese who repatriate and bring along their vehicles will have their vehicle re-exported if they fail to meet import requirements as transferred property. The re-export must be carried out within 30 days of the authorities’ decision. If the regulation is not conformed to, the vehicles will be confiscated.
The Ministry of Finance has also urged customs agencies to check vehicles left at ports to detect illegal imports.
