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Vietnam Customs Currency Limit: Cash Declaration, Medication, and the Dong

Vietnam Customs Currency Limit: Cash Declaration, Medication, and the Dong

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Anyone crossing into Vietnam with foreign-currency cash above 5,000 USD (or its equivalent) or with dong cash exceeding 15,000,000 VND has to declare it at the border gate.

You will find the cash regulations, the medication limits and the banned goods set out in this independent guide. Entry paperwork is dealt with on the evisa.gov.vn portal, so give it a look before setting off.

Vietnam Customs Currency Limit: Cash Declaration Rules

Circular 15/2011/TT-NHNN requires a declaration at the border gate when foreign-currency cash is worth more than 5,000 USD, or when dong tops 15,000,000 VND. Any foreign currency falls under that 5,000 USD threshold, and holdings worth the same in euros, pounds or another currency are counted too. According to the UK Foreign Office, the same limits govern cash taken out of Vietnam as well.

Vietnam Customs Currency Limit: Cash Declaration Rules

Land at Tan Son Nhat Airport and the government encourages you to complete a digital pre-arrival form within three days of arrival. Filling it in isn’t compulsory.

Medication, Vapes, and Restricted Goods

Three groups of items tend to catch travellers out at Vietnamese customs:

  • Prescription medication – keep it in your hand luggage together with a copy of the prescription. Once the total value goes above 100 USD, it needs declaring.
  • Vapes and related products – these are prohibited, and they won’t get into Vietnam in either hand or checked baggage.
  • Antiques – before you carry one home you must hold export permits issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the General Department of Customs.

Whatever is banned, taxed or dutiable has to be declared. Customs and health entry advice are two separate matters, so look up the vaccination guidance before you pack.

Vietnam Customs Currency Rules: The Vietnamese Dong

Behind the 15,000,000 VND threshold sits the Vietnamese dong (VND).

Vietnam Customs Currency Rules: The Vietnamese Dong

Common mistakes at Vietnam customs

  • Treating the 5,000 USD limit as if it applied to dollars alone. It covers the same amount in any currency.
  • Putting vapes into checked baggage. They are banned outright.
  • Stowing prescription medication in checked luggage rather than keeping it in hand luggage alongside a copy of the prescription.
  • Purchasing an antique with no export permits: permits from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the General Department of Customs are required.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Vietnam customs currency limit for cash?

A declaration is required for foreign-currency cash above 5,000 USD or its equivalent, and for dong cash above 15,000,000 VND. That 5,000 USD figure applies to every currency.

When leaving Vietnam, do I also need to declare cash?

Yes. Departures are judged by the same thresholds, so anything above 15 million dong or 5,000 US dollars is declared at the border gate.

If I exceed the limit, what should I do?

Go to customs at the border gate and declare the cash. The limits sit at 15 million dong or 5,000 US dollars (or the equivalent), and the declaration is made on the way in or out.

Am I permitted to bring prescription medication into Vietnam?

Yes, though conditions apply. Keep it in hand luggage with a copy of the prescription, and declare it once the total value goes past 100 USD.

Are vapes and e-cigarettes permitted in Vietnam?

No. A ban covers vapes and related products, which cannot be brought into Vietnam in hand or checked luggage.

Is it possible to buy antiques in Vietnam and export them?

Only when permits are in place. Export permits from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the General Department of Customs are required.

Which currency does Vietnam use?

The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong (VND), and it is the currency the 15,000,000 VND declaration threshold refers to.

What goods do I have to declare at Vietnam customs?

Everything banned or liable to tax or duty. In practice that covers cash beyond the thresholds, medication worth over 100 USD and antiques without permits.

Sources and verification

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Peter Petersen

Author: Peter Petersen

With 9 years of experience in travel documentation, Peter Petersen writes practical guides on the Vietnam eVisa. His focus is on clear checklists: who needs the document, what to prepare and how long approval usually takes. This is an independent website, not connected to the government of Vietnam.