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| After completing the exit or transit procedures, persons departing from or transiting through Vietnam may purchase duty-free goods in restricted areas__Photo: noibaiairport.vn |
I am a foreigner working in Vietnam and travel abroad frequently for work. Can I purchase duty-free goods in Vietnam?
Yes. Foreigners may purchase duty-free goods in Vietnam if they fall within one of the eligible categories specified in Article 5 of Government Decree 273/2026/ND-CP (Decree 273). Foreign nationality alone does not determine eligibility. The eligible persons include:
Persons exiting from or transiting through Vietnam
After completing the relevant exit or transit procedures, persons departing from or transiting through Vietnam via international land border gates, international railway stations, seaports, or international civil airports may purchase duty-free goods at duty-free shops located in the relevant restricted areas. Persons awaiting departure may purchase duty-free goods at inland duty-free shops and collect them at designated delivery counters in the restricted areas of the international border gates through which they will depart.
In these cases, purchasers may also arrange to receive the goods abroad.
Passengers on international flights
Passengers on international flights departing from, or arriving in, Vietnam may purchase duty-free goods on board aircraft.
Persons entering Vietnam
Persons entering Vietnam may purchase duty-free goods at duty-free shops located in the restricted areas of international civil airports immediately after completing entry procedures. Once they have left the restricted area, they may no longer purchase duty-free goods.
Persons entitled to privileges and immunities in Vietnam
Persons entitled to diplomatic or other privileges and immunities in Vietnam may purchase duty-free goods at inland duty-free shops.
For purchases made on behalf of an organisation, the purchaser must present the relevant duty-free quota book. For purchases made for an individual, the purchaser must present the duty-free quota book together with the identity card issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Crew members on vessels operating international routes
A crew member working on board a foreign-flagged vessel or a Vietnamese-flagged vessel operating on an international route may purchase duty-free goods at Vietnam’s seaports or inland duty-free shops for:
(i) His/her personal needs;
(ii) The crew members’ collective living needs while the vessel is berthed at a Vietnamese seaport; or,
(iii) Use on board during the vessel’s subsequent voyage outside Vietnam’s territorial waters.
For personal purchases, the purchaser must present the crew member’s passport or shore pass.
For purchases for the crew’s collective living needs, the purchaser must provide information including the vessel identification number, the vessel’s date of entry and the passport number of each crew member.
For goods intended for use during the vessel’s subsequent voyage outside Vietnam’s territorial waters, the same information specified above must be provided. The goods must also be placed in the vessel’s storage area for customs sealing, certification and supervision until the vessel departs Vietnam.
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| A duty-free shop operated by the Noi Bai Airport Services Joint Stock Company (NASCO)__Photo: noibaiairport.vn |
Are there limits on the quantity or value of duty-free goods I can buy?
Yes. The limits depend on the purchaser’s status and circumstances.
Persons departing from or transiting through Vietnam
Persons departing from or transiting through Vietnam, persons awaiting departure and passengers on international flights departing from Vietnam may purchase duty-free goods without limits on quantity or value. However, they are responsible for complying with the customs procedures, import restrictions and duty-free allowances applicable in the country of destination.
Passengers on international flights to Vietnam and persons entering Vietnam
Passengers on international flights to Vietnam and persons entering Vietnam may purchase duty-free goods only within the applicable duty-free baggage allowances.
For each entry, a person travelling on a passport or passport substitute issued by a competent Vietnamese or foreign authority, other than a laissez-passer used for entry or exit, is entitled to the following allowances for accompanied baggage or baggage sent before or after the journey:
- Alcohol: 1.5 litres of beverages with an alcohol content of 20 per cent or more; or 2 litres of beverages with an alcohol content below 20 per cent; or 3 litres of other alcoholic beverages and beer;
For alcohol contained in an unopened bottle or other container exceeding the applicable allowance, the entire container may still qualify for duty exemption if the excessive volume is not higher than 1 litre. If the excessive volume is more than 1 litre, it will be liable to import duty.
- Tobacco: 200 cigarettes; or 250 grams of shredded tobacco; or 20 cigars;
The alcohol and tobacco allowances do not apply to persons under 18.
- Personal effects: quantities and types appropriate to the purpose of the journey.
- Other goods: goods other than those listed above that are not prohibited from import, suspended from import or subject to conditional import may qualify for duty exemption if their total customs value does not exceed VND 10 million.
If a traveller’s baggage contains several articles and the applicable allowance is exceeded, the traveller may choose which articles will be exempt from import duty.
Persons entitled to privileges and immunities
Persons entitled to privileges and immunities in Vietnam may purchase duty-free goods at inland duty-free shops within the applicable quarterly quotas as follows:
- For heads of diplomatic missions: 100 litres of alcoholic beverages, 300 litres of beer and 30 cartons of cigarettes;
- For heads of consulates and representative offices of international organisations: 70 litres of alcoholic beverages, 270 litres of beer and 30 cartons of cigarettes;
- For diplomatic officials, consular officials and officials of international organisations: 50 litres of alcoholic beverages, 200 litres of beer and 20 cartons of cigarettes; and
- For administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions and consular employees of consulates are entitled to the applicable first-time allowance;
For a first purchase made within six months from the date stated on the identification card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided the person’s stay in Vietnam is at least 90 days, the limits are 40 litres of alcoholic beverages, 400 litres of beer and 20 cartons of cigarettes.
Eligible organisations are also subject to separate duty-free quotas prescribed by law.
If persons entitled to privileges and immunities purchase goods at duty-free shops located at international land border gates, international railway stations, seaports or international civil airports, the limits applicable to departing or arriving travellers, as appropriate, will apply.
Crew members on board international vessels
For a crew member purchasing duty-free goods for personal use or the crew’s collective living needs while the vessel is berthed at a Vietnamese seaport, the limit for each crew member on each call at a Vietnamese seaport is 1.5 litres of beverages with an alcohol content of 20 per cent or more, or 2 litres of beverages with an alcohol content of below 20 per cent, or 3 litres of other alcoholic beverages and beer; and 200 cigarettes, or 250 grams of shredded tobacco, or 20 cigars.
For unopened alcohol containers exceeding the limits, the entire container will be duty-free if the excessive volume is no more than 1 litre; otherwise, duty will apply to the excessive volume.
For duty-free goods intended for use during the vessel’s subsequent voyage outside Vietnam’s territorial waters, there is no limit on quantity or value, provided that the goods are used on board after the vessel has departed Vietnam.
It should be noted that duty-free purchases may be paid for in Vietnam dong (VND);) US dollars (USD); euros (EUR); the currency of a country sharing a land border with Vietnam, where the duty-free shop is located in the relevant border area; or the currency of a country where an international flight operated by an airline established and operating under Vietnam’s law enters or transits.-
