Cambodia and Vietnam are strengthening customs cooperation to facilitate cross-border trade, improve border management and combat smuggling, as both countries work towards a bilateral trade target of US$20 billion. The commitment follows high-level discussions between the two countries’ customs administrations in Phnom Penh on October 30, 2026, against a backdrop of expanding commercial ties and growing trade volumes.
Key Facts
Bilateral trade target: US$20 billion.
2025 trade volume: Approximately US$11.4 billion, up 12% year-on-year.
2026 trade performance: More than US$8.7 billion in the first eight months.
Vietnamese investment in Cambodia: Approximately US$3.4 billion across 223 projects.
Key border crossing: Bavet–Moc Bai International Border Crossing.
Cooperation period: Joint action plan for 2027–2028.
Cambodia and Vietnam Review Customs Cooperation
The meeting brought together Kun Nhim, Director General of Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), and Nguyen Van Tho, Director General of Vietnam Customs.
Both sides reviewed progress in customs duty collection, trade facilitation, customs modernization and cooperation to prevent cross-border offences.
The discussions focused on improving operational coordination while making the movement of legitimate goods more efficient. Both administrations recognised the importance of stronger customs systems in supporting trade growth and maintaining effective border controls.
The cooperation also reflects the need to balance trade facilitation with enforcement against smuggling and other illegal cross-border activities.
Bilateral Trade Surpasses US$8.7 Billion in First Eight Months of 2026
Economic ties between Cambodia and Vietnam have continued to expand.
Bilateral trade reached approximately US$11.4 billion in 2025, representing a 12% increase compared with the previous year. Trade exceeded US$8.7 billion during the first eight months of 2026, indicating continued commercial activity between the neighbouring countries.
Vietnam is Cambodia’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and its third-largest trading partner globally, according to the report.
Vietnamese investment in Cambodia has also reached approximately US$3.4 billion across 223 projects. These investments cover several sectors, including telecommunications, agriculture, banking and aviation.
The combination of growing trade and investment highlights the importance of efficient customs procedures and reliable cross-border logistics for businesses operating in both markets.
Joint Action Plan for 2027–2028 to Strengthen Border Management
A central outcome of the discussions was the commitment to implement a joint action plan for 2027–2028.
The plan will focus on several areas of customs cooperation:
Risk management: Strengthening the identification and management of high-risk shipments and cross-border activities.
Post-clearance audits: Improving checks conducted after goods have passed through customs clearance.
Intelligence sharing: Increasing the exchange of information to support enforcement and prevent customs violations.
Border coordination: Reinforcing focal points at border checkpoints to improve communication between the two administrations.
Transit goods clearance: Optimising procedures for goods moving through the two countries.
These measures are intended to improve customs efficiency while strengthening the ability of both countries to identify suspicious activities and prevent illegal trade.
Bavet–Moc Bai Crossing Considered for Joint Inspection Mechanism
The two customs administrations also discussed exploring a single-window joint inspection mechanism at the Bavet–Moc Bai International Border Crossing.
The proposal could help streamline inspections by improving coordination between Cambodian and Vietnamese authorities at this strategic border point.
For businesses, more coordinated inspections could potentially reduce procedural delays, improve the predictability of cargo movements and support more efficient supply chains.
However, the mechanism was described as an area for exploration. The report does not indicate that a joint inspection system has already been implemented or provide a confirmed launch date.
Vietnamese Delegation Visits Cambodia's Customs and Trade Infrastructure
During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation inspected several facilities and systems connected to Cambodia’s customs and trade operations.
The programme included information technology operations at the General Department of Customs and Excise, trade facilitation systems at Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone and passenger clearance infrastructure at the newly developed Techo International Airport.
The delegation praised Cambodia’s customs modernization efforts following the visits.
These inspections provided an opportunity for the Vietnamese officials to observe Cambodia’s ongoing development of customs technology, trade facilitation infrastructure and passenger clearance systems.
Angkor Times Analysis: Customs Efficiency Will Matter for the US$20 Billion Trade Target
The US$20 billion bilateral trade target represents an important ambition for Cambodia–Vietnam economic relations. Achieving it will depend not only on demand for goods and investment flows but also on the efficiency of the systems that move products across the border.
Customs procedures are particularly important for agricultural products, industrial inputs and manufactured goods, where delays can increase transport costs, disrupt production schedules and affect delivery commitments.
The proposed cooperation at Bavet–Moc Bai is therefore significant. If implemented effectively, coordinated inspections could help reduce duplicated procedures and improve the movement of legitimate commercial shipments.
The 2027–2028 action plan also places emphasis on risk management and post-clearance audits. This approach could support faster processing for compliant businesses while allowing customs authorities to concentrate enforcement resources on higher-risk transactions.
For Cambodian companies, exporters and logistics operators, the practical value of the cooperation will ultimately depend on implementation: clearer procedures, better information exchange, predictable inspections and shorter clearance times.
The reported trade figures demonstrate the scale of the existing relationship, but the US$20 billion target remains an objective rather than an achieved result. Continued cooperation and measurable improvements in border operations will be important to turning that ambition into sustained trade growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Cambodia and Vietnam’s bilateral trade target?
The two countries are working towards a bilateral trade target of US$20 billion.
2. How much did Cambodia and Vietnam trade in 2025?
Bilateral trade reached approximately US$11.4 billion in 2025, an increase of 12% compared with the previous year.
3. How much trade was recorded during the first eight months of 2026?
Trade between the two countries exceeded US$8.7 billion during January–August 2026.
4. How much has Vietnam invested in Cambodia?
Vietnamese investment in Cambodia totals approximately US$3.4 billion across 223 projects, covering telecommunications, agriculture, banking and aviation, among other sectors.
5. What is the Bavet–Moc Bai joint inspection proposal?
Cambodia and Vietnam are exploring a single-window joint inspection mechanism at the Bavet–Moc Bai International Border Crossing to improve coordination and potentially streamline customs procedures.
6. What will the 2027–2028 customs action plan cover?
The plan will focus on risk management, post-clearance audits, intelligence sharing, stronger border checkpoint coordination and more efficient transit goods clearance.
7. Has the joint inspection mechanism already been introduced?
The reported discussions describe it as a mechanism being explored. No implementation date or confirmation of its launch was provided.