Vietnam’s customs duty-free allowance for personal goods is $390 (VND 10,000,000) per traveler, set by Prime Minister Decision 31/2015. If you’re moving long-term and shipping a container of household goods, Decree 134/2016 Article 7 can exempt your entire personal property from import duty, with conditions. I’ve been based in Danang for nine years and have helped hundreds of expats navigate this process.

The short version: bring your laptop and clothes without worry, declare cash over $5,000 and gold over 300 grams, leave the car behind, and if you’re staying 12+ months on a work or student visa, get the Article 7 exemption paperwork started before your container ships.

What is Vietnam’s duty-free allowance for personal goods?

The standard duty-free threshold is $390 (VND 10,000,000) per person for general goods and gifts, confirmed by Decision 31/2015. Items within this value clear through the green channel without tax. Anything above requires a red channel declaration, where customs assesses import duty plus 10% VAT on the excess.

Alcohol: up to 1.5 litres of spirits (22%+ ABV), or 2 litres of wine or liqueur (under 22%), or 3 litres of beer — these are alternatives, not cumulative totals. Tobacco: up to 200 cigarettes, 20 cigars, or 250 grams of loose tobacco (older sources cite higher cigar limits; this is the most consistent 2025–2026 figure). Both limits apply to travelers aged 18 and over.

Can foreigners import household goods duty-free when moving to Vietnam?

Yes — Decree 134/2016 Article 7 (as amended by Decree 18/2021) allows foreigners authorized to work or study in Vietnam for 12 months or more to import personal movables duty-free, at one piece or one set per item category. Vietnamese citizens returning after 12+ months abroad and overseas Vietnamese registering permanent residence for the first time qualify under the same rule.

Two hard exclusions: automobiles and motorcycles are explicitly barred from this exemption regardless of visa status. And the 12-month threshold means a work permit, student visa, or equivalent authorization — a tourist visa does not clearly qualify.

Whether a digital nomad on a repeatedly extended tourist visa can claim this exemption remains officially unresolved. If you’re planning a long-term expat relocation to Vietnam on a tourist-based arrangement, get a customs agent’s opinion before committing to a shipping container.

How to ship household goods to Vietnam: the form most people miss

Unaccompanied baggage — goods shipped by sea or air freight, not carried personally — requires customs declaration Form C.101 filed through Vietnam’s VNACCS/VCIS electronic system. You also need a detailed inventory in English or Vietnamese, plus your passport and Bill of Lading or Airway Bill.

The part that derails relocations: an Arrival Declaration Form must be requested and stamped at the port of entry on your landing day — before you leave the customs hall. Vietnamese customs does not issue this automatically. If you exit without it, the form cannot be backdated, and your household goods shipment loses eligibility for the personal effects exemption. The container then clears under full commercial import duties.

I regularly hear from people after the fact — the container is at the port, and customs wants a form that should have been stamped on arrival day two months earlier. The stamp takes five minutes at the airport and costs nothing. Skipping it can add weeks of delays and thousands in unexpected duties. For the full relocation documents checklist and first steps, I’ve put together a separate breakdown of what to prepare before you fly.

What electronics can I bring into Vietnam duty-free?

Personal electronics — laptops, phones, tablets, cameras — generally clear Vietnamese customs for personal use without duty, provided the total value stays under $390 (VND 10,000,000). One of each device is the informal personal-use threshold; multiple unopened units of the same device signal commercial import and may trigger inspection.

Laptops clear favorably: under Vietnam’s FTA agreements (CPTPP, EVFTA, ASEAN), the preferential duty rate is 0% on laptops (HS code 8471), with 10% VAT on assessed value above the duty-free threshold. A single used personal laptop typically clears without any assessment.

Televisions are the most expensive electronics to ship. The preferential import duty rate on LCD/LED TVs is 35%, with 10% VAT on top. A TV valued at $800 faces roughly $280 in duty plus $108 VAT — $388 in tax on an $800 item. Buying a TV locally costs less than shipping one.

What must you declare at Vietnamese customs?

Cash: Foreign currency exceeding USD 5,000 (or equivalent) must be declared at the red channel. Vietnamese dong exceeding VND 15,000,000 must also be declared. Failure to declare risks fines or confiscation.

Gold: Amounts of 300 grams or more of gold jewelry or handicrafts must be declared. Enforcement was tightened in 2025 via Circular 121/2025/TT-BTC, with electronic filing now required for significant amounts. Gold bars and raw gold are prohibited for individual non-residents without State Bank of Vietnam authorization.

Precious stones: Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds valued at $11,700 (VND 300,000,000) or more must be declared.

Parcels sent ahead: As of February 18, 2025, Vietnam eliminated the VAT exemption for low-value express shipments. Every parcel via DHL, FedEx, EMS, or similar — regardless of value — must now be fully declared and taxed. There is no remaining de minimis threshold for courier packages.

Vietnamese customs at international airports is straightforward when you know what to expect. The process below applies to arrivals at Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi airports.

  1. Before you fly: List all items with estimated values. Any new item group totaling over $390 should have receipts accessible in carry-on luggage.
  2. On landing: Go to the customs declaration desk before proceeding to baggage claim if you need the Arrival Declaration Form stamped for goods being shipped separately.
  3. Choose your channel: Green channel if all items are within duty-free limits and cash is under $5,000 foreign equivalent. Red channel if you have anything to declare.
  4. Declare accurately: Customs officers can inspect bags at both channels. Voluntary declaration at the red channel results in a standard duty assessment with no additional penalty.
  5. Claim freight later: For unaccompanied baggage arriving separately, present the stamped Arrival Declaration Form plus Form C.101 to the freight customs office at the relevant port.

What to bring, what to leave behind

For most long-term movers, the practical answer is: carry everything you own personally, declare cash and gold correctly, and buy large appliances in Vietnam. TVs, refrigerators, and air conditioners are competitively priced locally and come with local warranty support — shipping costs and duties make bringing them from abroad almost always the wrong financial choice.

The Article 7 exemption makes full household shipments viable for those with a solid 12-month work permit or student visa. For anyone on a rolling tourist visa, the formal exemption is legally uncertain — factor import duties into the relocation budget and ship selectively.

If the visa and e-visa side of your relocation still needs sorting — including timing your first entry correctly — send me a message in Telegram. I cover Danang and central Vietnam and can connect you with a local customs agent for the freight paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

Can I import a car or motorcycle into Vietnam? Automobiles and motorcycles are explicitly excluded from the personal effects duty-free exemption under Decree 134/2016. Importing a personal vehicle faces steep import duties. Most long-term expats rent or buy a motorbike locally — it’s cheaper and simpler than shipping.

Are used electronics and furniture taxed when I move to Vietnam? Used personal electronics — laptops, phones, tablets you’ve owned — generally pass through customs without duty under the personal effects regime. Furniture is not explicitly listed in the Article 7 exemption categories, so its duty-free eligibility is unconfirmed. A customs agent can advise based on your specific items and visa status before you ship.

Can I bring prescription medication to Vietnam? Yes. Keep medication in original packaging and bring a prescription or doctor’s letter for supplies exceeding a 3-month course. Certain controlled substances require advance import approval from Vietnam’s Ministry of Health. Standard medications for blood pressure, diabetes, or allergies clear without issue in amounts matching your stay length.

What happens if customs finds undeclared goods? Undeclared goods found during inspection face retroactive duty, fines, and potential confiscation. Customs officers can inspect luggage at both the red and green channels. Going through the red channel and declaring voluntarily produces a standard duty calculation with no added penalty.

Does the Article 7 exemption apply on a tourist visa? Decree 134/2016 Article 7 specifies foreigners “authorized to work or study in Vietnam for 12+ months,” which points to work permits and student visas. Whether long-stay tourist visa arrangements qualify has not been officially confirmed by the customs authority. Check with a local customs agent before shipping household goods under a tourist-based long-stay arrangement.

Can I bring my pet to Vietnam? Yes, but pets follow a separate import process from personal goods customs. You need veterinary health certificates, a rabies vaccination record certified by your home country’s official veterinary authority, and pre-arrival clearance from Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health. The process typically takes several weeks from application to approval.