Postal service to get new legal framework in Vietnam

Viet Nam is updating the set of laws surrounding the post in order to guide postal activities and control new market developments, especially the participation of domestic and foreign logistics companies.

Viet Nam would also raise the quality of postal services by separating the post from telecommunications and establishing an independent postal enterprise, the Viet Nam Posts Corporation, said Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Thanh Hung.

He said the ministry was considering raising the price of postage stamps from VND800 to between VND1,200-VND1,500.

Hung said the present price was below operating costs, but added that a hike would help local postal operators improve postal networks and invest in new technologies, as the Government was still paying compensation for losses in the postal sector. However, he said the timing of any hike would not be decided until next year.

Hung was speaking as about 150 delegates from 30 countries gathered in Ha Noi for the 31st Asian Pacific Postal Executive Council (APPU-EC) meeting.

They will focus on such things as domestic express mail services (EMS), mail security and e-business.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC), several new postal services will be outlined at the meeting, such as e-post from South Korea.

“The aim is to strengthen co-operation among postal administrations in the Asia Pacific region,” said Nguyen Thanh Hung.

Hung said the five-day event would also discuss and harmonise regional views on proposals for the Universal Postal Union Congress later this year.

“Viet Nam continues to develop its postal sector, and I hope the event will help us gain more practical experience from member countries,” said Hung