Job Discussion Forums

[calidan]

I think there was a thread on here recently about bringing personal belongings into Vietnam, and whether you will be subject to import duties/taxes, etc. I can't find the thread now, so maybe I was reading it on another forum, but I thought I'd post my recent (just yesterday) experience here, in case it might be helpful to anybody.

For background, I came from the US, on Philippine Airlines, into Ho Chi Minh city (Tan Son Nhat airport, SGN). I just recently sold my house and most of my belongings, but there were quite a few things I wanted to bring. Just so you know what I mean by "quite a few things", I packed several digital cameras and lenses, 2 iPads, 2 iPhones, a Macbook, my electric guitar, 2 wireless (Sonos) speakers, an Apple Time Capsule, various network, USB, and power cables, my 10-year-old road bike (in a bike box), plus clothes, toiletries, shoes, etc.

I brought way more stuff with me than somebody could justify as being simply for vacation. I fully expected to get questioned about all of it when I went to clear Customs, but I also brought a lot of cash in an envelope in my front pocket, and I was prepared to start bribing if I had to, or perhaps give up some of my less-precious electronics (e.g., an old iPad or iPhone). After clearing Immigration, I went to the Customs x-ray machine, and placed my two suitcases, a backpack, my guitar (in a soft "gig" bag), and the bike box (which barely fit) onto the conveyor belt. They went through the machine, came out the other end, and I loaded them back on my hand-cart and walked out of the airport. No questions, no taxes, nothing.

The only expense in bringing all of this (beyond the plane ticket, of course) was $109 for the bike box, that Philippine Airlines charged me because it was oversized. I looked into shipping it, and it would have cost $650, so I was quite happy paying only $109.

So, I had a good experience overall, and nothing was damaged, lost, or stolen. Maybe I just got lucky, but Vietnam Customs couldn't have cared less about all the stuff I brought in.

[mushroom_season]

Vietnam doesnt care about bringing stuff in. Its the taking it home again is the issue. Dont be fooled by the ease that you had on arrival.

[calidan]

Not a problem. I'm not planning on going back.

[RustyShackleford]

Yeah that was pretty much my experience. Painless as can be (really HCMC's airport, for being part of the Big Bad Communist Countries, is amazing lax.)

I left with loads of harddrives, smartphone(s), and camera stuff but they never really stopped me either though. Your milage may vary, I guess.

[I'm With Stupid]

Just don't bring any sex toys. I hear they can get confiscated.