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Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Copy of passport (identification pages only) with entry stamp*
• Packing list in English
• Bill of lading (telex release) / air waybill (AWB)
• Vietnam entry visa (valid at least 3 or more months) / temporary residence card*
• Original Vietnam arrival-departure card  (3 copies shipment)**
• Letter of employment
• Copy of labor contract (Hanoi only)
• Copy of business license
• Vietnam employer’s company license copy
• Copy of work permit (for all sea / air shipments over 300 kgs gross)*
• Application letter
• Owner of the goods’ address in Vietnam

 

Specific Information

• All air shipments are physically inspected by Customs at the air terminal. 
  • The average time is approximately 1-2 days.
• Sea shipments will normally undergo physical Customs inspection. 
  • The average time for Customs clearance is 2-3 days for full container load (FCL) shipments and 3-5 days for less container load (LCL) shipments.
• Sea or air shipments of diplomatic status are exempt from Customs inspections (diplomats).
• All shipments undergo cultural inspections. 
  • This process takes approximately 3-4 days. 
  • Inspection may include, but is not limited to, books, art works, DVDs, CDs, antiques.
• All documents should be signed and stamped by the owners of the goods’ registered local employer in Vietnam.
• Antiques shipped into Vietnam should be clearly photographed and well documented.
  • Antiques should be inspected and registered upon entry (takes an additional 2 - 3 days).
  • Details should be clearly noted on packing list and carton.
• 3 copies of each document are required for each shipment. 
  • If there are multiple shipments, a separate set of documents (of 3) are required.
• Ho Chi Minh:
  • *Certified true copies required, this can be obtained by bringing the original document to the People’s Committee Office of Ho Chi Minh City
  • **Documents must be signed and stamped (company seal) by the owner of the goods’ registered local employer in Vietnam.
• Hanoi:
  • Customs requires labor contract copy in additional to above documents.
• All documents must be signed and stamped (company seal) by the owner of the goods’ registered local employer in Vietnam.
  • Certified true copies are only required for passport and entry visa / temporary residence card.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Original passport
• Residency card
• Proof of ownership
• Original purchase invoice

 

Specific Information

• Owners of the goods cannot bring / import any type of vehicle into Vietnam unless they are working for an UN organization or an Embassy / Consulate, which are under diplomatic status

Pets

Documents Required

• Owner of the goods’ passport
• Vaccination record
• Owner of the goods’ entry visa (valid at least 3+ months)
• International health certificate
• Import permit
• Flight arrival details
• Original Vietnam arrival - departure card (3 copies per shipment) (pets traveling as cargo)
• Vietnam employer’s company license copy (pets traveling as cargo)
• Application letter and Power of Attorney (pets traveling as cargo)
• Airway bill (pets traveling as cargo)

 

Specific Information

• The import permit is required by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
• Quarantine for pets traveling as cargo is not required.
• Pets should arrive on a weekday (M - F) before 3:30 p.m.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Duty shall be payable on the following types of liquor at the rate expressed as a percentage of the value of the liquor:
• Liquor with  alcohol by volume of less than 30% measured at 20°C:
• 125-150%
• Liquor with  alcohol by volume of more than 30% measured at 20°C:
• 125-150%
• Wine (10-20 bottles duty free):
• 125-150%
• Duty shall be payable on tobacco at the following rates:
• >100 cigars:           150%    prepared tobacco (> 50 grams):                 45%
• >400 cigarettes:      150%    all other manufactured tobacco products:      45%
• Personal computers are charged import duty at 15%. 
• Personal printers are charged duty at 10%.
• Non-perishable food items and items in cans and other durable packaging can be imported in small amounts.

Prohibited Items

• Weapons
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Military equipment
• Radio transmitters
• Satellite dishes
• Poisonous chemicals
• Cultural products
• Articles of anti-government nature
• Fireworks
• Toys and games which affect public moral education and security
• Pornographic or subversive materials
• Motorbikes

Cultural and Other Information

CIA World Factbook Entry for Vietnam

Wikipedia Entry for Vietnam