Tightening customs management: Declaration of gold and foreign currency fraud can be fined up to 50 million dong

Vietnamese law allows individuals to carry gold and currency when exiting and entering the country but must comply with the conditions and procedures as prescribed. Depending on the value of the property and the purpose of use, the person who exits or enters the country must carry out customs declaration procedures or obtain a permit from a competent authority.

Regarding cash: Individuals when entering and exiting with a passport with a foreign currency in cash of more than 5,000 USD (or other foreign currencies with equivalent value) or 15 million VND for Vietnamese dong must declare customs (Circular No. 15/2011/TT-NHNN).

Regarding gold jewelry and fine art: Individuals when exiting and entering with a passport carrying gold jewelry and fine art with a total volume of 300g (three hundred grams) or more must declare to the customs authority (Circular No. 11/2014/TT-NHNN).

From July 1, 2026, the cases of failing to fulfill the obligation to declare and declare falsely at customs for gold and foreign currency upon exit or entry according to regulations, violators may be subject to the corresponding administrative sanctions according to the provisions of Articles 11 Decree No. 169/2026/ND-CP, specifically as follows:

First, Persons exiting with a passport or by other valuable papers on behalf of a passport issued by a competent authority of Vietnam or abroad, a passport without declaring or falsely declaring the foreign currency of the cash permitted with the currency, the Vietnamese dong in cash or gold in excess of the regulations when exporting The scene is punished as follows:

a) A fine of between VND 1,000,000 and VND 3,000,000 for the case of exceeding the prescribed level that the infringing exhibits are worth between VND 5,000,000 and under 30,000,000 VND;

b) A fine ranging from VND 5,000,000 to VND 15,000,000 for the case of excess bearing in the off-site exhibit value equivalent to VND 30,000,000 to under 70,000,000 VND;

c) A fine of between VND 15,000,000 and VND 25,000,000 for the case of excess carrying, but the evidence of violation is worth the equivalent of VND 70,000,000 to less than 100,000,000 VND;

d) A fine of between VND 30,000,000 and VND 50,000,000 shall be imposed for carrying in excess of the prescribed limit and the evidence of violation is equivalent to VND 100,000,000 or more without being charged criminal liability.

Second, the person entering the country with a passport or by other types of documents is valid instead of a passport issued by a competent Vietnamese or foreign authority, without declaring or falsely declaring the foreign currency cash amount of the type allowed to carry, Vietnamese dong in cash and gold in excess of the prescribed limit. When entering the country, except for certain cases, they will be punished as follows: 

a) A fine of between VND 1,000,000 and VND 2,000,000 for the case of excess bearing over the prescribed level, and the infringing exhibits are worth between VND 5,000,000 and under 50,000,000 VND;

b) A fine of between VND 5,000,000 and VND 10,000,000 shall be imposed in case of excess bearing in excess of the specified material evidence of the equivalent value of VND 50,000,000 to under 100,000,000 VND;

c) A fine of between VND 10,000,000 and 20,000,000 shall be imposed in case of exceeding the prescribed limits and the evidence of violation is equivalent to VND 100,000,000 or more without being charged criminal liability.

Thirdly, violating the provisions of Clause 2, Article 11, if the amount of foreign currency cash, Vietnamese dong in cash and gold has declared more than the actual amount, the fines will be as follows:

a) A fine ranging from VND 2,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 for the case of foreign currency cash, Vietnamese dong in cash and gold that have declared more than the actual amount with the equivalent value of VND 5,000,000 VND to less than 20,000,000 VND;

b) A fine ranging from VND 5,000,000 to VND 15,000,000 for the case of foreign currency cash, Vietnamese dong in cash and gold that has declared more than the actual quantity brought with the equivalent value from 20,000,000 VND to less than 100,000,000 VND;

c) A fine ranging from VND 15,000,000 to VND 25,000,000 for the case of foreign currency cash, Vietnamese dong in cash and gold that have declared more than the actual amount brought with the equivalent value from VND 100,000,000 or more without being prosecuted for criminal liability.

Fourthly, the person who exits and enters the country with a passport carrying foreign currency cash of the type of money that is not allowed to bring but does not declare or declare incorrectly shall be sanctioned as follows:

a) A fine ranging from VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 in case of evidence of violation with the equivalent of VND 5,000,000 to less than VND 50,000,000;

b) A fine of between VND 10,000,000 and VND 30,000,000 shall be imposed for the case of infringing exhibits worth between VND 50,000,000 and under VND 100,000,000. Vietnam;

c) A fine of between VND 30,000,000 and VND 50,000,000 shall be imposed in case of evidence of violation of the equivalent value of VND 100,000,000 or more without being prosecuted for criminal liability.