Vietnam customs rules & duty-free allowances
Vietnam treats undeclared cash and gold as smuggling, not a paperwork slip: the excess is confiscated on the spot and the fine can reach three times the amount involved. Customs also enforces the green/red channel split strictly, so if you are over any allowance, take the red channel.
Duty-free allowances
Prohibited — banned from import
- Narcotics and all illegal drugs
- Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
- Pornographic materials, including books, magazines, and digital media
- Counterfeit goods and fake currency
- Certain meat and poultry products from countries with disease outbreaks
- Cultural artifacts and antiques without an export permit from Vietnam
Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration
- Medicines (prescription and over-the-counter) — must be for personal use with documentation
- Plants, seeds, and live animals — require a phytosanitary or veterinary certificate
- Drones and satellite phones — require prior permission from Vietnamese authorities
- Gold (over 300g) and cash (over USD 10,000) — must be declared
- Fireworks and flammable materials — require special permits
Arriving: red vs green channel
After immigration, you enter the customs hall. If you have nothing to declare and are within all allowances, walk through the green channel. If you have anything to declare — cash over USD 10,000, gold over 300g, goods over USD 800, or restricted items — go to the red channel and fill out a customs declaration form. Random baggage checks are common, so keep receipts for high-value items.
Tax-free shopping & VAT refunds
Vietnam offers VAT refunds for tourists at participating shops. Minimum purchase is 2,000,000 VND (about USD 80) per store per day, and you must claim within 60 days of purchase. At the airport, go to the VAT refund counter before check-in with your passport, goods, invoices, and the VAT refund form. Refund is 85% of the VAT paid.
Bringing medication
Bring personal medication in original packaging with a prescription or doctor's note. You can bring up to 30 days' supply. Narcotics, psychotropic drugs, and some common Western medicines (e.g., those containing codeine, pseudoephedrine, or certain sedatives) are controlled or banned. Check with the Vietnamese embassy before travel.
Food, plants & animal products
All meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, and plants are prohibited or require an import permit. Biosecurity rules are strict to prevent disease. Declare any food or plant items at the red channel; undeclared items will be confiscated and may incur fines.
Rules worth knowing
Gold and cash declaration
You must declare if carrying more than USD 10,000 in cash or more than 300g of gold. Undeclared amounts are confiscated and you can be fined up to three times the excess. This is strictly enforced at all entry points.
Green channel only if nothing to declare
The green channel is for travellers with no goods to declare. If you exceed any duty-free allowance, even by one item, you must use the red channel. Failure to do so can result in fines and confiscation.
Tobacco and alcohol limits are per adult
The duty-free allowances for alcohol and tobacco apply per adult traveller (18+). They cannot be pooled across a family or group. If you are travelling with children, their allowances do not apply.
VAT refund requires original invoices
To claim a VAT refund, you must have the original tax invoices and the goods must be unused and in original packaging. The refund counter is before security, so allow extra time.