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VietnamGeneral Information
From January 1, 2025, a ban on the production, sale, transportation, use and advertising of all types of electronic cigarettes has been introduced. The ban is new and it is not yet clear how strictly it will be enforced and whether smoking e-cigarettes in public places will really be banned, but that it has been introduced and is already in effect is reported by all local media.
To begin with, here are frequent questions and answers on the topic of import and export to Vietnam. Although they are not directly related to customs regulations, you need to know about them:
- What and how much can be carried in luggage and carry-on to Vietnam? First of all, you should know that baggage and carry-on baggage allowances and customs regulations are different things. Baggage and carry-on baggage allowances are set by airlines and this does not depend on the country's customs rules. You can find out baggage and carry-on baggage allowances in your ticket or on the airline's website, they differ for each airline and for different fares even within the same airline.
- Can fruits be imported or exported not in a basket? Yes, there are no customs regulations or airline rules that require passengers to transport fruits only in baskets. So you can bring fruits in a bag, backpack, suitcase and anything else, as long as they comply with the airline's carriage regulations.
- Can fruits be carried in checked luggage? Yes, fruits can be carried both in checked luggage and in carry-on baggage.
- How many fruits can be carried in carry-on or checked luggage? You can carry as many as allowed by the carriage allowances for your ticket (they differ by airlines and fares), but do not forget that what you brought on the plane still needs to be imported into the destination country. And here the customs regulations of the destination country come into play. For example, in the Russian Federation you can import no more than 5 kilograms of fruits and other plant products per person.
- Is it true that airlines have banned taking baskets of fruits on board? No, that is not true. If your total complies with the airline's carriage regulations for weight, size and number of pieces of baggage and carry-on, then you can carry within these limits a basket of fruits as well. Read more here
- Is alcohol purchased at duty-free added together with that in baggage at customs? Yes, it is added. That is, if you are carrying 1 liter from home in your baggage and bought another 1 liter at the airport, then you will be carrying 2 liters through customs.
- Can e-cigarettes be imported? No. From January 1, 2025, a ban on the production, sale, transportation, use and advertising of all types of electronic cigarettes has been introduced.
And now in detail everything you need to know about Vietnam's customs regulations:
When entering Vietnam, you are required to fill out a customs declaration if you have items subject to declaration. Then it is presented when leaving the country.
The import of household, electronic and computing equipment (including a laptop) into Vietnam is theoretically subject to mandatory declaration. All undeclared equipment will be allowed for export only upon payment of customs duties or with a receipt for its purchase from local trade organizations. But in practice, this rule for used electronics not in packaging is not applied, because otherwise it would be necessary to 'register' all tourists' phones, cameras and tablets. If you are still worried about this, you can declare it, it is done free of charge.
It is recommended to keep proof of all expenses incurred in the country during your stay. The export of national currency in large quantities, works of art and antiques, jewelry and handicrafts without appropriate documentary registration is prohibited.
Also, do not forget that the VAT Refund system operates here, which allows you to get back part of the cost of expensive purchases when leaving. More about VAT Refund in Vietnam here....
What is Allowed to be Brought In Duty-Free
- up to 200 cigarettes or 20 cigars or 250g. of tobacco
- up to 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of up to 20 degrees or 1.5 liters of stronger alcoholic beverages or up to 3 liters of low-alcohol beverages or beer.
- up to 5 kg. of tea, up to 3 kg. of coffee
- other goods for personal use with a total value not exceeding 10,000,000 dong (380 USD).
Alcohol and cigarettes are allowed to be imported only by tourists over 18 years old.
If the capacity of one bottle of alcohol exceeds the specified limits by no more than 1 liter, then such a bottle can also be carried duty-free.
Note that alcohol from the duty-free shop also counts towards the overall limit.
Import/Export of Currency
The import and export of foreign convertible and national currency from Vietnam is not limited, but it is necessary to declare any foreign currency equivalent to more than 5 thousand US dollars, as well as national currency in an amount exceeding 15,000,000 dong. Gold with a total weight of over 300 grams is also subject to declaration.
The declaration itself does not threaten you with anything, you will not have to pay anything from this amount. Therefore, you should not take risks in such cases, and honestly declare everything.
What is Prohibited to Import and Export
The import/export of drugs and narcotic-containing medications without a doctor's prescription for their use is prohibited (sanctions for drug import are extremely high, up to the death penalty), firearms, pornography, printed materials, compact discs, audio and video recordings that offend local traditions, antiques, live wild animals, stuffed turtles, corals, rare plants.
There are no restrictions on the quantity of the following items, but they must be declared (fill out a customs declaration) upon entry if a certain quantity (amount) is exceeded. In this case, if you fill out a customs declaration, you must go through the red customs channel, not the green one.
- Foreign currency in an amount exceeding 5000 US dollars, including Russian rubles converted.
- Vietnamese currency in an amount exceeding 15,000,000 dong (approximately 570 USD, )see Vietnam currency and its exchange rate).
- Gold weighing more than 300 grams.
- Gold and jewelry not for personal use.
- Video cassettes, CD and DVD discs. They may also be temporarily confiscated from you upon entry for inspection and subsequent return.
Export of Fruits
Officially, there are no customs prohibitions on the export of fruits from Vietnam, but theoretically, some restrictions may be established by the veterinary and phytosanitary control service. In practice, when exporting fruits, they are of no interest to anyone, so you can export them without problems, as long as it is in reasonable non-commercial quantities.
Sometimes you can come across information that fruits from Vietnam can only be exported in plastic containers. This is complete nonsense, since the customs service does not regulate in any way what form fruits can be carried on board an aircraft. This is all within the competence of the specific airline you are flying with.
Airlines allow transporting fruits in any form in baggage or carry-on, with or without a basket, as long as they do not exceed the carriage allowances for weight and dimensions for your ticket.
Sometimes on charter flights (tour flights) they allow carrying fruits in addition to the permitted allowances, this is the so-called "Fruit Basket" service. This is most often paid, rarely free. This must be clarified in the tour conditions with the tour operator. However, the "Fruit Basket" service does not at all prohibit you from carrying fruits in any form except a basket within the permitted baggage and carry-on allowances, i.e., you can carry them in a bag, suitcase, etc. at your discretion.