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Southeast Asia

Shipping from Europe to Vietnam

Ship parcels and freight from Europe to Vietnam — the EVFTA (EU-Vietnam FTA) provides significant duty reductions, with 3–5 day express transit via Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

0% (staged)

EVFTA FTA

10%

Vietnam VAT

VND 1M (~€38)

Courier de minimis

3–5 days

Express transit

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic economies, with over 8% annual GDP growth and a rapidly expanding middle class of 97 million people. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which entered into force on 1 August 2020, is transforming EU-Vietnam trade — progressively eliminating duties on EU exports to Vietnam over a 7–10 year period. Already, many EU manufactured goods have reached 0% duty under EVFTA. Vietnam's customs authority (General Department of Vietnam Customs — GDVC) uses an electronic clearance system (VNACCS/VCIS). Vietnam VAT (thuế giá trị gia tăng — GTGT) is 10% standard rate on all taxable imports. Vietnam is also a major manufacturing hub for electronics and textiles — understanding the re-export context can help EU companies maximise EVFTA benefits for components shipped to Vietnamese factories.

Customs Process for Vietnam

VNACCS/VCIS electronic declaration

Vietnam Customs uses VNACCS (Vietnam Automated Cargo Clearance System) and VCIS (Vietnam Customs Intelligence Information System) for all import clearance. Carriers submit electronic advance cargo information before arrival at Noi Bai Airport (HAN, Hanoi) or Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN, Ho Chi Minh City — also called Saigon). GDVC risk-rates shipments electronically — most standard commercial express shipments from the EU clear through Lane 1 (no inspection) or Lane 2 (documentary review only).

EVFTA duty calculation

Under the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA, from 1 August 2020): EU-origin goods benefit from progressive tariff elimination. Many EU manufactured goods are already at 0% duty; others follow a 7- or 10-year elimination schedule. To claim EVFTA preferential rates: goods must be of EU preferential origin. Provide EUR.1 Movement Certificate from EU customs authority or REX origin declaration on commercial invoice (for certified exporters with EU REX registration).

VAT (GTGT) assessment

Vietnam's VAT (GTGT — thuế giá trị gia tăng) standard rate is 10%. Applied on CIF value plus applicable import duty. The 5% reduced rate applies to some categories (agricultural equipment, specific food items, medicines, some children's products). VAT is paid at customs by the importer — B2B importers can reclaim input VAT through Vietnam's VAT system. B2C consumers pay 10% as part of the landed cost.

Specialist license check (restricted goods)

Vietnam requires import licences for many product categories — managed by different ministries: MOIT (Ministry of Industry and Trade) for chemicals, fuels, steel; MARD (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) for food, plants, animals; MOH (Ministry of Health) for medicines, medical devices, supplements; MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology) for scientific equipment; MOIT for machinery. Restricted goods without proper licences cannot clear customs.

Final delivery

DHL, FedEx and UPS deliver domestically in Vietnam via their carrier networks. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi: next-day post-clearance. Danang and other major cities: 1–2 days. Rural Vietnam and outlying provinces: 2–4 additional days. Vietnam's urban logistics infrastructure is rapidly improving — motorbike last-mile delivery is common in Ho Chi Minh City's dense urban environment.

Required Shipping Documents

Document	Required	Notes
Commercial Invoice	Mandatory	Full value in USD (preferred), HS code (Vietnam 8-digit tariff based on ASEAN Harmonised Tariff), goods description, country of origin, quantity, Incoterms.
EUR.1 Movement Certificate	Conditional	Required to claim EVFTA preferential duty rates. Issued by EU customs authority. Or REX origin declaration on invoice for REX-certified exporters.
Airway Bill (AWB)	Mandatory	Carrier AWB for all air express shipments. Sea freight: Bill of Lading.
Packing List	Mandatory	Required for all commercial imports. Each item listed with HS code and value.
Import licence (if applicable)	Conditional	Required for restricted goods — chemicals, medicines, food, medical devices, specific machinery. Issued by relevant ministry (MOH, MOIT, MARD, MOST).
Health / phytosanitary certificate	Conditional	Required for food, beverages, agricultural products, livestock products — from EU competent authority.
Certificate of Quality	Conditional	For some imported goods, Vietnam customs may require a quality certificate. Particularly for machinery and industrial equipment.

Import Duty & Tax Rates

Category	Rate	Notes
EU manufactured goods (EVFTA)	0–5% (staged)	EVFTA provides progressive elimination. Most EU manufactured goods at 0% or low duty by 2030. Check specific HS code for current rate.
Vietnam VAT (GTGT)	10%	Standard rate on all imports. On CIF + duty value. Reduced 5% for some categories.
Electronics (HS 84–85)	0% (EVFTA)	EU electronics benefit immediately from EVFTA — most IT equipment, machines at 0%.
Wine (2204)	0% (EVFTA 2025)	EU wine tariff elimination by 2025 under EVFTA. Plus special consumption tax (SCT) 65% on wine applies on top.
Clothing & textiles (HS 61–62)	5–12% (EVFTA)	Complex staging. Most EU fashion reducing from 12% MFN. Full 0% by 2027–2030.
Machinery (HS 84)	0–5%	Most industrial machinery 0% even at MFN. EVFTA accelerates any remaining.
Food / beverages	Varies 0–50%	Fresh produce: varies. Processed food: 5–30% MFN, EVFTA reducing. Dairy: 0–5%.
Special consumption tax (SCT)	Varies	SCT (thuế tiêu thụ đặc biệt) applies to alcohol, tobacco, luxury cars, gaming. On top of duty + VAT.

Best Carriers to Vietnam

Carrier	Service	Transit	Tracking	Notes
DHL Express	Worldwide Express	3–4 days	✓	Best EU–Vietnam carrier. DHL hub at Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Strong VNACCS customs integration. Wide Vietnam domestic network.
FedEx	International Priority	3–5 days	✓	FedEx good for Vietnam, particularly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) business district. Competitive rates.
UPS	Worldwide Expedited	4–5 days	✓	UPS Vietnam available but less frequent than DHL/FedEx. Best for heavy B2B commercial shipments.
DHL Economy	Economy Express	6–9 days	✓	Economy option via consolidated air. Good for non-urgent shipments.
Vietnam Post + PostNL	Tracked postal	14–28 days	✓	Cheapest for small parcels. Vietnam Post domestic final mile — coverage to rural Vietnam but inconsistent tracking.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

✗Narcotics and controlled substances without Ministry of Health permit

✗Weapons and military equipment without Ministry of National Defence permit

✗Counterfeit goods and pirated intellectual property

✗Firecrackers (prohibited year-round in Vietnam)

✗Child pornography and obscene material

✗Gambling equipment without government licence

✗Products subversive to Vietnamese national security

✗Cultural relics exported from Vietnam without MOCA permit (for imports: antiques require documentation)

✗Endangered species (CITES) without CITES permit

✗Some encrypted communication devices without MIC approval

Expert Tips for Shipping to Vietnam

▸Register as a REX (Registered Exporter) with your national customs authority to streamline EVFTA origin declarations — with REX registration, you can declare EU preferential origin directly on the commercial invoice without obtaining a EUR.1 certificate for each shipment. The REX system is free and the certification from your national customs authority (in Portugal: AT — Autoridade Tributária) authorises you to use invoice-level origin declarations for all EVFTA-covered shipments. This significantly reduces paperwork for regular EU exporters to Vietnam.
▸Check import licence requirements for your product BEFORE your first Vietnam shipment — Vietnam has a complex licensing system administered by multiple ministries. The Ministry of Health (MOH) manages medicines, medical devices and supplements; MARD manages food and agricultural products; MOIT manages chemicals, steel, fuel and machinery; MOST manages scientific equipment. Import without required licences results in customs detention. The Vietnamese Customs General Department (customs.gov.vn) publishes restricted goods lists but working with a local Vietnamese customs broker greatly simplifies the process.
▸Always invoice in USD for Vietnam shipments — USD is the de facto trading currency for international commercial transactions in Vietnam. VND (Vietnamese Dong) fluctuates and is rarely used for international invoicing. Vietnamese customs calculates duties based on USD CIF value. European sellers quoting in EUR should be aware that DHL/FedEx Vietnam booking platforms will convert EUR to USD at bank rate for customs declaration purposes.
▸For e-commerce selling to Vietnamese consumers: Vietnam's e-commerce market is heavily dominated by domestic platforms (Shopee Vietnam, Lazada Vietnam, Tiki, Sendo). Cross-border B2C direct-to-consumer shipping to Vietnamese individuals works via express carriers but faces 10% VAT assessment even on small parcels above the VND 1,000,000 (~€38) de minimis. The Vietnamese market for European consumer goods is growing but remains premium/niche — luxury goods, wine, high-end cosmetics and branded fashion have the strongest demand.
▸Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC / Saigon) is Vietnam's commercial hub — approximately 70% of Vietnam's import volume passes through SGN airport or Cat Lai seaport. Hanoi (HAN) serves Northern Vietnam and government procurement. If you have business contacts primarily in Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Hai Phong), note that HAN airport has slightly longer customs clearance times than SGN in some carriers' experience. For industrial/factory shipments (Vietnam's electronics manufacturing is concentrated in the North near Hanoi): DHL and FedEx both offer good coverage of the Hanoi-Hai Phong industrial corridor.
▸Vietnam's special consumption tax (SCT / thuế tiêu thụ đặc biệt) significantly impacts the effective cost of importing wine, spirits and tobacco to Vietnam — even with EVFTA's wine tariff eliminations, wine faces 65% SCT on top of the reduced/zero import duty plus 10% VAT. This makes EU wine in Vietnam expensive despite EVFTA. Factor SCT into landed cost calculations for alcohol exports — your Vietnamese importer will price accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EVFTA and how does it benefit EU exporters to Vietnam?

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) entered into force on 1 August 2020 and is one of the EU's most ambitious FTAs with a developing economy. Key EVFTA benefits for EU exporters to Vietnam: (1) Tariff elimination: approximately 65% of EU goods exported to Vietnam gained 0% tariff immediately on entry into force (1 Aug 2020); the remaining tariffs are eliminated over 7–10 years (most by 2027–2030). (2) Products covered at 0% already include industrial machinery, electronics, chemicals, plastics and most manufactured goods. (3) Agricultural products have longer staging: dairy 3–5 years, pork 7–9 years, wine by 2025. (4) To claim EVFTA rates: goods must be of EU preferential origin — provide EUR.1 Movement Certificate or REX origin declaration.

What is the de minimis for duty-free imports to Vietnam?

Vietnam's de minimis threshold for courier/express shipments is VND 1,000,000 (one million Vietnamese Dong — approximately €38 or USD 42). Parcels with a declared customs value below VND 1,000,000 are imported duty and VAT-free under the simplified customs regime for non-commercial personal imports. For commercial shipments (any goods being imported for resale or business use): de minimis does not apply — all commercial imports regardless of value must be declared with duty and VAT assessed. Most express courier shipments above VND 1,000,000 go through Vietnam Customs VNACCS formal clearance.

How long does shipping from Europe to Vietnam take?

DHL Express Worldwide: 3–4 business days from major EU cities to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN). FedEx International Priority: 3–5 days. Vietnamese customs clearance via VNACCS: typically 2–4 hours for Lane 1 (low-risk) shipments, 1–2 days for document review (Lane 2) or inspection (Lane 3). Total door-to-door: typically 4–6 business days for express. Economy (DHL Economy Select): 6–9 days. Postal tracked services: 14–28 days. HCMC and Hanoi have good express carrier networks for domestic delivery; regional Vietnam adds 1–3 days.

What import licences are commonly required for shipping to Vietnam?

Vietnam requires import licences for many product categories from different ministries: (1) Ministry of Health (MOH): medicines, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics, cosmetics — require MOH import licence or registration. (2) Ministry of Agriculture (MARD): food, beverages, feed, fertilisers, pesticides, plant/animal products — require MARD permit and phytosanitary certificate. (3) Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT): chemicals, steel, textiles (quotas), fuels, fertilisers — MOIT licence required. (4) Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST): measuring instruments, radiation equipment, scientific equipment. (5) Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC): radio frequency devices, wireless equipment. Always check the 'prohibited' and 'conditional import' lists at the Ministry of Finance (mof.gov.vn) and General Department of Vietnam Customs (customs.gov.vn) for your specific HS code before first shipment.

What is the Vietnam VAT rate and how is it charged on imports?

Vietnam's standard VAT rate (thuế giá trị gia tăng, GTGT) is 10%. It applies to all taxable imported goods on the customs value (CIF basis — invoice + freight + insurance) plus any applicable import duty. Reduced VAT rates: 5% applies to medical equipment, agricultural products for production, some children's items and certain cultural/educational services. 0% rate: exports from Vietnam. Vietnam's 10% import VAT is a cash-cost for B2C consumers and B2B importers who are not VAT-registered. Vietnamese businesses that are VAT-registered can claim input VAT credit on import VAT paid at customs through their quarterly VAT returns.

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