Bringing 2 new iPads to Vietnam as gifts, plus an old personal one, would there be any problems?

[sealavender 0]

Hi,

My husband and I are going to Vietnam at the end of January to visit family. My mum requested that we bring her an iPad air, and also carry an extra one that her friend's son ( living in the US) wants to send to his mother.

For personal use, my husband will be bringing his own iPad air and Macbook Pro for work. I will have a kindle, a Canon DSLR with 2 lens and accessories, and a GoPro camera, all of which we will be taking back with us to the US.

This is in additions to a bunch of other small stuff (quite a few bottles of vitamins, few lbs of chocolates, a 1L bottle of Scotch, etc) that we'll be bringing for the family's use during Tet holiday.

Has anyone experienced bringing expensive electronics to Vietnam? Did you have any trouble at customs? Please advise.

Thank you and Chuc mung nam moi! (almost)

[JRF 117]

I've often brought in electronics (cameras, phones and iPads), some my own and others as gifts, and I have never had any problems. That said I try to pack things in different bags. I've noticed that customs seems to pick out Viet Khieu for special treatment - and I've had friends here in the US be asked for money when going thru customers in SGN. Customs makes it sound official; in my experience it's a couple of overwhelmed x-ray machines with a very serious older woman at the front yelling at people to move quickly.

They never bother me but it could be because I am a westerner, lucky, and not bringing in boxes and boxes of electronics. Hard to say and of course nothing is written down (to my knowledge there is no customs declaration unless it's in Vietnamese and I just didn't notice. I am always prepared to fork over some cash but so far haven't had the joy of doing so.

So...if your husband looks like me (unassuming accountant type from Ohio) have him carry the electronics. If you are both Viet Khieu suggest you have cash available to pay any fees that might be requested.

Good luck and perhaps I will see you in line. My wife's interview is 28 January and I am staying through Tet.

[frontgear 194]

This is my personal experience during my recent trip to VN in November 2013. I had an old iPad 2 and an iPhone 4 in my backpack. I was the last person going through customs and this screener in green uniform gave me a hard time. I had previously been advised by relatives and friends to put a $5 bill in my passport when I go through the screener. I decided against my relatives' advice and did not put any money in my passport. Two of my big luggages went through the baggage screener without any problems; however, the guy held my backpack back and said that, "you have an iPad and an iPhone in your back". He proceeded to ask me if I brought any cash on me. I said yes (of course). He said he wanted to see them and motioned me to come to his desk. I reluctantly put a $5 bill in his hand and he turned around and told me to give him $20. I only had a $10-dollar bill so I told him that was all I had. He took the $15 and waved me to go.

A $5-dollar bill tucked neatly in my passport could have gotten me out of the gate with less hassle and saved me 15 minutes of my precious time.

Edited January 5, 2014 by frontgear

[officespace 0]

I brought 5 new iphones and a new laptop to VN. Had to pay them $100 or leave my stuff at the airport, come back and pay the the tax which is more than $100 USD. The next time I brought a new camera and new iPad but I took them out of the box. Nothing happened.

It's just timing and luck. if there are lots of people going through security, you might getaway with it.

[sealavender 0]

Thank you all for your replies!

I have been informed about the "bill in the passport" procedure, but as a Vietnamese person I would hate to feed into the terrible corruption problem we have there. However, it's probably advisable for me to prepare some 5-10 dollar bills this time just in case, because we will be landing late in the PM and I really don't want to spend all night at the airport

I also planned on letting my husband carry most of the stuff, since he is caucasian. Should we go on separate lines at custom and pretend not to know each other, or is that unnecessary?

[frontgear 194]

I also planned on letting my husband carry most of the stuff, since he is caucasian. Should we go on separate lines at custom and pretend not to know each other, or is that unnecessary?

I think that would definitely help. You both can go through the same Passport line but as separate individuals at the baggage screener.

[mike411 15]

$5 cash in passport is a must! Definitely for your caucasian husband.

Take everything out of box like you are the user and not like gifts OR they will tax the ####### out of you. You will learn in the future when you have to eat the cost on bring things for others.

I got stopped for 10 minutes with 3 agents on me talking to each other. My friend came up and put $5 in my passport and the BS ended immediately.

Pride will just waste your time. I was surprised on how bold they were.

[DreamNHope 9]

Hi,

My husband and I are going to Vietnam at the end of January to visit family. My mum requested that we bring her an iPad air, and also carry an extra one that her friend's son ( living in the US) wants to send to his mother.

For personal use, my husband will be bringing his own iPad air and Macbook Pro for work. I will have a kindle, a Canon DSLR with 2 lens and accessories, and a GoPro camera, all of which we will be taking back with us to the US.

This is in additions to a bunch of other small stuff (quite a few bottles of vitamins, few lbs of chocolates, a 1L bottle of Scotch, etc) that we'll be bringing for the family's use during Tet holiday.

Has anyone experienced bringing expensive electronics to Vietnam? Did you have any trouble at customs? Please advise.

Thank you and Chuc mung nam moi! (almost)

With all due respect, your Mum has "great" taste in electronics. She asks for the LATEST in electronics. She didn't ask for "google Nexus 7" tablet, which is a LOT less expensive than the overpriced Apple stuff.

In other words, I don't think in your family money (savings) is the main concern.

So are we "wasting" time to be concerned about $5 here and there?

I think so.

[No name 88 48]

I've been traveling for years and have found that if you take new products out of the box and put in different bags you usually won't have a problem. Being white has a lot to do with that I feel. I've been traveling to Vietnam for 2 years with 2 phones, a work lap top and a personnel flip book and have never been stopped. I've been travelling for work for 12 years now so I think I give off a business traveler vibe without knowing it. Customs just waves business travelers past without a second look. If I went through looking like a back packer it may be a different story.

[Tighfield 3]

I'm leaving for Vietnam very soon and bringing gifts. I thought about taking everything out of the boxes they come in and put them in separate little bags to give to each person. I'm taking 2 perfume bottles (2.2 oz and 3.4oz), 2 wallets, razor and shave gel with replacement blades, hydrated lotion (8oz) and a makeup kit. The razor and replacement blades would the only thing I would not open and for all they know, they could be for me. Arriving in Saigon at 10:30PM after on a plane for so long, I really hope I have no issues. I'll use the $5 passport trick if I need to.

[siennaslammer 8]

hello -

Newbie here.

just started the process for K1

FYI:

I went on 3 trips this last autumn to visit my now fiancee = 3 trips in 3 months!!!

had no issues or problems.

just act naturally and if you can speak Vietnamese then a big +

no problems at all at passport station = same questions = "anh sanh o dau?" = where were you born?

then go and pick up checked-in luggage - grab free push cart if you got a lot ---

no problems at custom station = quick rush right thru the x-ray machine

VN VISA: details on this topic can be found elsewhere:

visa-on-arrival: make sure you have several copies of the "visa-on-arrival" letters + a working pen + cash to pay at window

sept 2013: 1st trip = my iphone + my ipad + laptop (in my backpack) + gifts (all in big luggage = perfume bottles etc...) = No Problem

Oct 2013: 2nd trip = my iphone + my ipad + laptop = in my backpack

+ gifts (new iphone 5 (out of box), new ipad mini (out of box)) = in my carry-on small roller luggage

= place empty boxes in luggage, perfume bottles + stuff) split all of my clothes & gift in luggage & big box) = No Problem

Nov 2013: 3rd trip = my iphone + my ipad in my back pack + gifts split between my luggage & big box = No Problem

electronics: from what I can gather 1 or 2 is OK; but if more then they will "ding" you and instead of paying the "import tax" you pay the "by-pass tax"

Just remember to place those liquid/gel/lotion/blades in your check-in luggage

- perfume bottles/boxes: seal with tape - the boxes = hopefully prevent the drained/water replacement issues by bag handlers (if any)

- then put them in ziplock bags & tape tight = just in case something breaks open = it is contained

- everything arrived perfect.

- depends where connection: both hong kong & japan customs are very strict and will check every carry-on bag for contrabands & liquids

- watch your luggage total weight & your airline max weight - else pay extra - i was ready on my 3rd trip since I brought back hefty amount

- now I am gold level = can have 2 bags :-)

- also Vietnam Airlines will charge you extras (about $1USD per kg for all luggage over 20kg)

enjoy your trip

best

[siennaslammer 8]

Hi,

My husband and I are going to Vietnam at the end of January to visit family. My mum requested that we bring her an iPad air, and also carry an extra one that her friend's son ( living in the US) wants to send to his mother.

For personal use, my husband will be bringing his own iPad air and Macbook Pro for work. I will have a kindle, a Canon DSLR with 2 lens and accessories, and a GoPro camera, all of which we will be taking back with us to the US.

This is in additions to a bunch of other small stuff (quite a few bottles of vitamins, few lbs of chocolates, a 1L bottle of Scotch, etc) that we'll be bringing for the family's use during Tet holiday.

Has anyone experienced bringing expensive electronics to Vietnam? Did you have any trouble at customs? Please advise.

Thank you and Chuc mung nam moi! (almost)

Awesome!!

as per suggestions - take out of boxes - place empty boxes in check-in luggage & split them in your back-pack and/or carry-on roller

all of the gifts - i had no problems with them in my check-in luggage or box

for all liquids/gels/lotion: unless less than the "100 mL" for use while flying or waiting, place them in your check-in luggage or box

- place them in big zip-lock bags and tape shut (includes perfume as well)

- liquors: i brought back 2 bottles of cognac for my to-be-father-in-law + keep them in the original box (if you have them): add styrofoam popcorns on top to keep it from bumping around + tape box tight & then place the entire box/bottle in a big zip-lock bag (yes they have those biggie zip-lock bags) then tape tight - remove air - I placed the bottles right in the middle of luggage with clothing to keep it safe.

Everything arrived safely & accounted for - no lost or broken or half drained (watered down).

safe travels & have fun!!!

[JRF 117]

Perhaps I'm incredibly lucky but I've often gone through customs in Saigon with multiple phones, iPads and other electronic gear with no problems. I put things in different bags but that's all I do. For my last trip I took two new iPhone 5s still in the boxes and wrapped (one was actually in the bag from the apple store. This plus an iPad, a laptop, a nexus 7 and my personal phone. No problems.

I'd avoid putting currency in the passport as it seems a bit crass to me. That said if it worked before it may work again. I'm hardly an expert - just 7 or 8 trips as experience.

[frontgear 194]

Perhaps I'm incredibly lucky but I've often gone through customs in Saigon with multiple phones, iPads and other electronic gear with no problems. I put things in different bags but that's all I do. For my last trip I took two new iPhone 5s still in the boxes and wrapped (one was actually in the bag from the apple store. This plus an iPad, a laptop, a nexus 7 and my personal phone. No problems.

I'd avoid putting currency in the passport as it seems a bit crass to me. That said if it worked before it may work again. I'm hardly an expert - just 7 or 8 trips as experience.

Perhaps it is because you're Caucasian. Vietnamese customs officers are known to not give foreigners any troubles.

Edited January 26, 2014 by frontgear

[JRF 117]

Perhaps it is because you're Caucasian. Vietnamese customs officers are known to not give foreigners any troubles.

Yes, agree. I'm careful to not push any limits but I understand the fact I am Caucasian makes a difference.

Interestingly they seem to make more notice of my visa waiver stamp and ask me if my wife is VN (yes) and do I understand VN (some). I try to keep as low a profile as possible so anything beyond pleasantries from a person in uniform makes me very very cautious.