Can I send alcohol or tobacco to Vietnam?
No.
Couriers generally refuse them, and as special-consumption-tax goods they can't use the gift exemption. Traveler allowances don't apply to shipments.
For every Onvoyo box: Onvoyo and most express couriers don't carry alcohol, tobacco or vaping products in personal boxes, whatever the destination allows.
More rules for Vietnam
Allowed with conditions
- Gifts
- Free of duty and VAT up to VND 2,000,000 (about $77), or if the total tax is under VND 200,000 (about $8), up to 4 times a year. Alcohol, beer, tobacco, other special-consumption-tax goods, and banned or suspended goods don't qualify.
Quantity limits
- Gifts
- Free of duty and VAT up to VND 2,000,000 (about $77), or above that if total tax is under VND 200,000 (about $8), up to 4 times a year. Not for alcohol, beer, tobacco, or banned goods.
- Alcohol (travelers only)
- 1.5 liters of spirits of 20% or more, or 2 liters under 20%, or 3 liters of beer, per adult traveler per entry. Does not apply to shipments.
- Tobacco (travelers only)
- 200 cigarettes, or 250 g of tobacco, or 20 cigars, per adult traveler per entry. Does not apply to shipments.
Before you ship to Vietnam
- Tax-free limit
- Express and postal shipments worth VND 1,000,000 (about $39) or less, or with import duty of VND 100,000 (about $4) or less, pay no import duty. Above that, duty is due on the whole shipment. VAT has applied to express imports from the first dong since February 18, 2025, when the old rule that waived both taxes up to VND 1,000,000 ended. Gifts from someone abroad to a person living in Vietnam are free of duty and VAT if worth VND 2,000,000 (about $77) or less, or if the total tax would be under VND 200,000 (about $8), up to 4 times a year.
- Receiver ID
- Personal identification number (số định danh cá nhân) from the citizen ID card, or passport number for foreigners needed. Have the receiver's ID number ready before you ship. Customs applies the gift allowance per receiver (4 times a year), and the relocation exemption needs a copy of the receiver's citizen ID card or residence papers, or a passport and work permit for foreigners. The courier may also ask for it on the customs declaration.
- Transit
- 4-7 business days from Europe or North America; 2-5 from elsewhere in Asia
Questions
Can I send alcohol or tobacco to Vietnam?
No. Couriers generally refuse them, and as special-consumption-tax goods they can't use the gift exemption. Traveler allowances don't apply to shipments.
Ask about a specific item
Official sources
- 1.
Cục Hải quan (Vietnam Customs), Ministry of Finance
Danh mục hàng hóa cấm nhập khẩu (opens in a new tab) - 2.
Cục Hải quan (Vietnam Customs), Ministry of Finance
Tài sản di chuyển và quà biếu, quà tặng (opens in a new tab) - 3.
Công báo (Official Gazette of Vietnam)
Nghị định số 163/2025/NĐ-CP quy định chi tiết một số điều và biện pháp để tổ chức, hướng dẫn thi hành Luật Dược. (opens in a new tab) - 4.
Công báo (Official Gazette of Vietnam); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development circular
Thông tư số 25/2016/TT-BNNPTNT quy định về kiểm dịch động vật, sản phẩm động vật trên cạn. (opens in a new tab) - 5.
- 6.
Cục Hải quan (Vietnam Customs), Ministry of Finance
Thủ tục hải quan đối với hành lý của người nhập cảnh vượt quá định mức miễn thuế, gửi trước, gửi sau chuyến đi (opens in a new tab) - 7.
- 8.
Công báo (Official Gazette of Vietnam)
Nghị định số 181/2025/NĐ-CP quy định chi tiết thi hành một số điều của Luật Thuế giá trị gia tăng. (opens in a new tab) - 9.
Government of Vietnam (vanban.chinhphu.vn)
Nghị định số 134/2016/NĐ-CP của Chính phủ: Quy định chi tiết một số điều và biện pháp thi hành Luật thuế xuất khẩu, thuế nhập khẩu (opens in a new tab)
General guidance, not legal advice. Customs in Vietnam makes the final decision on every box.