VietNamNet Bridge – The Government has slapped a ban on carrying fuel worth more than VND200,000 without invoices in border areas with effect from September 15.


A man carries empty fuel cans in a border area in the southern province of Tay Ninh. (Photo: VNS)
A circular issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade – to combat smuggling out of the country – requires filling stations along the borders with Cambodia and Laos to issue invoices with the names and addresses of buyers for such purchases.

It limits foreign buyers to 50 litres of fuel at a time, and 100 litres in case of water-borne vehicles.

Provincial authorities are, however, authorised to reduce those limits depending on the kind of vehicle.

With fuel prices normally higher in neighbouring countries, smuggling of petrol and other substances is rampant especially into Cambodia.

On July 4, Ron 92 petrol cost VND21,300 a litre in Viet Nam, VND5,225 lower than in Laos, VND4,095 lower than in Cambodia, VND4,048 lower than in China, and VND12,161 lower than in Singapore.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News