Vietnam studies Croatian postal service model
A Vietnamese delegation traveled to Croatia last month.
The group studied how the country handles its universal postal service, part of an effort to update Vietnam’s own postal laws. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long led the group, which met with Croatian Post officials on June 23. The trip was meant to gather international practices for drafting a revised Law on Post.
Vietnamese officials outlined their current legal framework, including the 2010 Law on Post and related documents. They also explained the structure of Vietnam’s postal sector, split between universal services and commercial offerings, and discussed major policy proposals in the draft revision.
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Croatian Post still dominates after decades
Croatian Post reported it held more than 80% of the country’s total mail volume in 2025. The state-owned operator remains the largest postal company in Croatia by a wide margin.
During the working session, the Croatian side shared details on its production and business operations, as well as how it delivers universal postal services. The two delegations exchanged views on state support for those services.
According to the company, the government provides annual financial support for universal postal service delivery. That amount equals roughly 10% of its total postal service revenue.
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The group also toured its main sorting center. Built and commissioned in 2019, it is the largest sorting hub in the country. The facility was described as a key part of their operations.
Postal law revision comes amid broader sector changes
Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology is leading the drafting process for the revised Postal Law. They said the experience in Croatia offers useful reference points, particularly around how to fund universal services without putting too much strain on the state budget.
Croatia’s model — direct government subsidies at that same proportion of revenue — stands in contrast to some other European countries that rely more on cross-subsidies from commercial services. They appeared interested in how that arrangement works in practice.
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Back in Vietnam, the postal sector has been growing.
Revenue from postal services hit an estimated VND8.5 trillion ($340 million) in May, a 30% increase from the same month last year. That growth is tied to rising demand for transportation and e-commerce delivery. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Communications recently revoked licenses of 30 postal enterprises in Hanoi. And Vietnam Post, the state-owned operator, named Nguyen Truong Giang as its new chairman on that same day, outlining fresh development strategies for the digital age.
The trip to Croatia didn’t produce any formal agreements. But officials said the exchange helped clarify how different countries handle the tension between universal service obligations and commercial pressures. The draft revised Law on Post is expected to be submitted for review later this year.
