Check what you can bring.
Everything you can bring, can't bring, and must declare at Vietnamese customs — organised by category.
Which lane do I take?
Red channel — goods to declare
Take the red channel if you carry anything over the duty-free limit, cash above the threshold, gold over 300g, restricted meds, professional gear, or items you're unsure about. Fill in a customs declaration and present the goods. Declaring is free and routine — hiding something that's found is what triggers fines and confiscation.
Green channel — nothing to declare
Most tourists use the green channel: ordinary luggage, allowances within the duty-free limits, no cash over the threshold and no restricted or prohibited goods. You skip the declaration form, but officers can still spot-check bags and run scanners. "Nothing to declare" only protects you if it's actually true.
Your customs checklist
Everything, by category
Must declare
Carry it through the red channel and write it on the form. Legal to bring — just declare it.
Cash & foreign currency over the limit
DECLARE / CONDITIONS$5,000 USD / 15,000,000 VND
- Foreign currency over USD 5,000 (or equivalent) or cash over 15,000,000 VND must be declared on arrival
- Set by Circular 15/2011/TT-NHNN — the threshold counts the total you carry, not per note or per person in your group
- Failure to declare can mean confiscation plus an administrative fine
Gold over 300 grams
DECLARE / CONDITIONS300 g
- Bringing in gold jewelry or gold over 300g must be declared to customs (State Bank of Vietnam rules)
- Bringing in raw/bar gold for trade is tightly restricted — only personal jewelry in reasonable amounts is straightforward
Gifts & goods over the duty-free value
DECLARE / CONDITIONS10,000,000 VND total value
- Gifts and goods (other than alcohol/tobacco) up to a total customs value of 10,000,000 VND are duty-free under Decree 134/2016/NĐ-CP
- Over that value, declare at the red channel and pay duty on the excess
- Brand-new items still in retail packaging or in commercial quantities are treated as imports, not personal effects
Duty-free allowance
What each arriving passenger aged 18+ may bring tax-free under Decree 134/2016/NĐ-CP. Over these limits, declare and pay duty.
Alcohol allowance
ALLOWED1.5 L spirits >22% · 2 L ≤22% · 3 L beer
- Per arriving passenger aged 18+: 1.5 L of spirits over 22%, OR 2.0 L of wine/spirits at 22% or under, OR 3.0 L of beer
- These are alternatives, not a sum — pick one band. A bottle over 1L of spirits >22% is fully dutiable on the excess
- Over the allowance must be declared and is dutiable
Tobacco allowance
ALLOWED200 cigarettes · 20 cigars · 250 g tobacco
- Per arriving passenger aged 18+: 200 cigarettes, OR 20 cigars, OR 250 g of shredded tobacco
- This covers conventional tobacco only — e-cigarettes and heated tobacco are banned outright (see "Never bring")
Personal effects & gifts
ALLOWEDGifts/goods up to 10,000,000 VND
- Clothing, toiletries and used personal items in reasonable quantity for your trip are duty-free
- Gifts and other goods get a duty-free total customs value of 10,000,000 VND under Decree 134/2016/NĐ-CP
- One laptop, phone and camera for personal use raise no issues; commercial quantities of any item do
Allowed with conditions
Legal to bring if you meet the conditions — a prescription, a permit, a health certificate, or a declaration. Prepare the paperwork before you fly.
Prescription medication
DECLARE / CONDITIONS- Bring up to a personal-use quantity, in original packaging, with a copy of your prescription
- Some controlled meds (strong opioids, certain ADHD/anxiety drugs) are restricted — check the substance and declare if unsure
Pets
DECLARE / CONDITIONS- Needs a rabies vaccination, a health certificate and an import permit
- Apply 30+ days ahead via the Department of Animal Health; quarantine may apply
Drones & flying devices
DECLARE / CONDITIONS- Flying drones needs a permit from the Ministry of Defence under Decree 36/2008/NĐ-CP — even small consumer drones officially require clearance
- Carrying one in is usually fine, but flying without a permit risks confiscation and fines — check no-fly zones before every flight
Professional & broadcast equipment
DECLARE / CONDITIONS- A normal tourist camera is fine, but professional film, broadcast or surveying gear, satellite phones and powerful radio transmitters may need declaration or a permit
- Filming for commercial or news purposes can also require a separate press/filming permit — arrange it in advance
Never bring
Prohibited imports. There's no declaration that makes these legal — bringing them risks confiscation, heavy fines or prosecution.
Narcotics & drugs of any kind
BANNED- Absolutely prohibited. Possession can mean prison; trafficking can carry the death penalty
- Includes cannabis, even from places where it's legal at home, and many prescription-grade controlled substances without authorization
Weapons, ammunition & explosives
BANNED- Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks/firecrackers and military gear are prohibited imports
- Replica or toy guns and even strong knives can be seized — leave anything weapon-like at home
E-cigarettes & heated tobacco
BANNED- Fully banned since 1 Jan 2025 (Law 56/2024/QH15) — including possession and use, for tourists too. Don't bring them
- Devices and pods are confiscated at customs; using one can mean a fine around 2,000,000 VND
Anti-state or obscene materials
BANNED- Printed or digital material deemed "reactionary", anti-state, or culturally depraved/obscene is prohibited
- Maps showing borders that contradict Vietnam's official position (e.g. the East Sea) can also be seized
Counterfeit & pirated goods
BANNED- Counterfeit brand goods and pirated media are prohibited imports under Decree 98/2020/NĐ-CP
- A single obviously-personal fake item rarely triggers action, but quantities suggesting resale can be seized and fined
Taking things out
Export rules matter too. Antiques, wildlife products, large cash and high-value purchases all have controls on the way out of Vietnam.
Antiques & cultural relics
DECLARE / CONDITIONS- Genuine antiques and cultural relics need an export permit under the Law on Cultural Heritage — uncertified pieces can be seized on departure
- Buy reproductions, or keep the shop's certificate and receipt proving the item is a modern replica
Large cash leaving Vietnam
DECLARE / CONDITIONS$5,000 USD / 15,000,000 VND
- The same thresholds apply on the way out: declare foreign currency over USD 5,000 (or equivalent) or cash over 15,000,000 VND
- If you declared cash on the way in, keep that declaration to prove the source when you leave with it
Wildlife, ivory & protected species
BANNED- Ivory, rhino horn, turtle shell, pangolin scales and products from protected species are banned to export under CITES — penalties are severe
- Some hardwood items, corals and certain dried seafood are also CITES-restricted — ask before buying as a souvenir
Keep receipts for high-value items
ALLOWED- Keep purchase receipts for jewelry, electronics and other high-value buys — they prove value and origin if customs asks on the way out
- Receipts also help with VAT-refund claims at the airport where available
General information, not legal advice. Reviewed by Vietnamese lawyers. For your situation, consult a qualified lawyer.
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