Viet Nam Import Duties & Taxes Explained

Import tax in Vietnam consists of Import Duty (varies by product, 0-25%) plus Value-Added Tax (VAT) at 8% through December 2026 for most consumer goods. Since the de minimis exemption was abolished in early 2025, nearly all shipments to Vietnam are subject to these charges regardless of value, calculated on your CIF value (goods cost + shipping + insurance) plus any applicable duties.

Yes, nearly all shipments to Viet Nam are subject to import duty and VAT, as the previous exemption for low-value express parcels has been abolished. Even if your shipment is under 1,000,000 VND, you should expect to pay taxes upon arrival.

The standard VAT rate is 10%, but a temporary reduced rate of 8% applies to most consumer goods through December 31, 2026. Your shipment will be charged this percentage on the total value including duty and shipping costs.

Customs duty is calculated as a percentage of the CIF value, which includes the cost of goods, insurance, and freight. Rates vary by product type, ranging from 0% for electronics like laptops to 25% for items like home appliances.

Yes, carriers like DHL or FedEx typically charge a handling or brokerage fee for processing your shipment and advancing tax payments. This fee is often around 2% of the tax amount or a minimum of approximately 200,000 VND.

Vietnam Customs collects all import duties and VAT directly from you or your carrier upon arrival. The carrier will usually collect these charges on behalf of customs before releasing your shipment.

You can estimate costs by adding the import duty (based on product category) and VAT (8% or 10%) to the CIF value of your goods. Remember that carrier handling fees will add an additional cost on top of these government charges.

Certain items like laptops, mobile phones, and tablets often have a 0% duty rate, but they are still subject to VAT. Most other consumer goods imported via your shipment will incur both duty and tax.

Vietnam Customs strictly uses the CIF value for calculations, so they may estimate shipping costs if not clearly listed on your invoice. This estimation could potentially increase the total taxes due on your shipment.