New stipulation on the carrying of cash in foreign currency, Vietnamese dong by individuals upon entry into and exit from the country

06/09/2011
The State Bank of Vietnam has just issued the Circular No: 15/2011/TT-NHNN dated August 12, 2011 providing for the carrying of cash in foreign currency, Vietnamese dong by individuals upon entry into and exit from the country.
This Circular will replace the Decision No. 337/1998/QD-NHNN7 dated 10/10/1998 of the Governor of the State Bank on carrying foreign currency, Vietnamese dong in cash upon entry into and exit from the country and Decision No. 921/2005/QD-NHNN dated 27/6/2005 of the Governor of the State Bank on the amendment of Paragraphs a and b in Article 1 of the Decision No. 337/1998/QD-NHNN7. 

According to article 2 of the Circular, individuals carry foreign currency, Vietnamese dong in cash, upon entry into or exit from the country with passport through international border gates of Vietnam, in excess of  USD 5,000 or VND 15,000,000 shall be required to declare to the border Customs. The above amount of foreign currency and Vietnamese dong in cash required to be declared at the border gate Customs shall not be applied to the individuals who carry means of payment, valuable papers in foreign currency or in Vietnamese dong such as traveler’s cheques, bank card, savings book, securities and other valuable papers.

An individual carrying an amount of foreign currency, Vietnamese dong in cash in excess of USD 5,000 or VND 15,000,000 or in excess of the carried amount that was declared to the border Customs upon the latest entry shall be required to present the Customs with a confirmation of carrying foreign currency, Vietnamese dong in cash abroad issued by an authorized credit institution in accordance with current provisions of laws on foreign exchange control or a written approval to the carrying of foreign currency, Vietnamese dong in cash abroad by individual issued by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Any individual who carries foreign currency, Vietnamese dong in cash upon entry into, exit from the country, if having any act of violating provisions of this Circular, depending on the nature and seriousness of the violation act, shall be dealt with administrative measure or prosecuted with criminal liability in accordance with provisions of applicable laws.

This Circular shall be effective from 01 September 2011.