The Government has approved a revised Postal Law of eight chapters and 52 articles, now before the second session of the 16th National Assembly, which opened debate on it on 17 October 2026 and is expected to close on 21 November. It would replace licences with online registration, split operators into network and non-network providers, require an identifier for every item, sender data collection and risk classification, and extend the universal service to parcels at uniform rates in remote areas. Platforms could contract delivery directly with carriers rather than through each seller.
Key dates
- Done17 Oct 2026
Second session of the 16th National Assembly opens (expected to sit 17 October to 13 November and 19 to 21 November); the parliamentary science committee said in July the draft was ready for adoption at this session Thị trường Tài chính Tiền tệ
- Done17 Oct 2026
National Assembly opens debate on the revised Postal Law on the first day of its session: one electronic registration in place of 14 procedures and a unique code for every postal item Vietnam+ (VNA)
- 1 Jul 2027
Expected entry into force, according to Baker McKenzie (not confirmed in official summaries) Baker McKenzie
Every date of this rule, with what it means for a parcel and what to prepare. If a date moves, your calendar moves with it.
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Who it hits
What to prepare
- Check that inbound data passed to Vietnamese partners can carry sender identity and item identifiers
- Review authorisations held in Vietnam: existing ones stay valid for 12 months after the law applies, then registration is required
- Follow the implementing decrees, which will set the detail of sender identification
Our reading
Sources
- Proposal for uniform shipping rates in remote areas (draft revised Postal Law) · Thanh Niên · 2026-09-30
- Việt Nam draft postal law seeks to build digital infrastructure for e-commerce · Viet Nam News · 2026-09-30
- Vietnam: Draft Postal Law reshapes delivery framework · Baker McKenzie · 2026-08-26
- Second session of the 16th National Assembly expected to work for 30 days and consider 45 legislative items · Thị trường Tài chính Tiền tệ · 2026-09-30
- Amending the Postal Law: from a 'management' mindset to 'enabling development' · VOV · 2026-07-16
- Postal services are essential infrastructure for the digital economy: NA President · Vietnam+ (VNA) · 2026-10-17
Related rules
- 16 Nov 2026ASEAN digital economy pact set for signature in Manila
49th ASEAN Summit in Manila (16 to 18 November), targeted DEFA signature
ASEAN member states · Proposed - 30 Jun 2027Vietnam requires foreign marketplaces to post VND 20 billion deposits
Deadline for platforms registered before 1 July 2026 to bring their dossiers into line
Vietnam (National Assembly; Government) · In force - 8 Dec 2027Indonesia keeps a US$100 floor on cross-border goods sold online
End of the 18-month compliance window for sellers registered before 8 June 2026 (our calculation from the regulation's start date)
Indonesia (Ministry of Trade) · In force - ·Vietnam proposes cutting its duty-free limit for small imports to VND 100,000
Most cross-border e-commerce parcels into Vietnam that now enter duty-free under VND 1 million would start paying import duty on top of VAT, at a threshold of about US$3.8.
Vietnam (Ministry of Finance; Customs Department) · Consultation - ·Thailand taxes every online import from the first baht
Every parcel into Thailand now carries duty and VAT; platform-collected parcels clear on pre-paid data, others pay at the door or through the courier.
Thailand (Customs Department; Revenue Department) · In force - ·Malaysia plans an E-Commerce Bill; courier floor price still under study
Low-value imports already carry 10% sales tax collected by registered sellers; the planned E-Commerce Bill would add platform and seller accountability duties, and a courier floor price, if adopted, would set a minimum on domestic delivery rates.
Malaysia (Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Communications; MCMC) · Consultation
Information, not legal advice. Dates come from official texts or quality legal and trade press, and slip often: always check the current text before acting. Back to the full radar.