What You Can & Can't Ship from Vietnam to the US

One of the first questions every expat asks before shipping from Vietnam: “Can I actually send this?” Fair question. US customs rules are strict, and getting it wrong means your package gets held, returned, or even destroyed.

Here’s a straightforward breakdown of what flies and what doesn’t when shipping from Vietnam to the United States.

The Good News First — What You CAN Ship

The vast majority of personal items ship without any issues. Here’s what’s generally safe:

Personal belongings & clothing

Clothes, shoes, accessories — no restrictions
Used personal items are fine (you don’t need to declare them as “new”)

Handicrafts & home decor

Vietnamese lacquerware, ceramics, and pottery
Silk products and textiles
Bamboo and rattan items (with proper treatment)
Paintings and artwork

Food items (with conditions)

Roasted, sealed coffee (Vietnamese coffee ships great)
Packaged, non-perishable snacks (dried fruit, candy, nuts)
Spices and seasonings in sealed containers
Instant noodles and dried goods

Electronics & books

Personal electronics (phones, laptops, cameras)
Books, magazines, printed materials
Small appliances (check voltage compatibility)

Gifts & souvenirs

Conical hats (nón lá), ao dai, traditional items
Jewelry (declare value accurately)
Wooden crafts (must meet ISPM-15 treatment standards)

Items That Need Special Handling

These items aren’t banned, but they require extra documentation or specific packaging:

Food Items & FDA Requirements

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all food entering the country — even personal shipments. Key requirements:

Prior notice must be filed with the FDA before food shipments arrive
Food must have proper labeling (ingredients, allergens, manufacturer info)
Commercial quantities require a registered FDA facility number
Personal-use quantities have more flexibility, but still need proper declaration

How we handle it: Gateway Express files FDA prior notice for food shipments and ensures proper labeling. This is one of the biggest reasons expats use a shipping agent for food items.

Liquids

Perfumes, fish sauce, sauces, and other liquids can be shipped but need:

Leak-proof containers with secondary containment
Proper cushioning to prevent breakage
Accurate declaration (especially alcohol — there are quantity limits)

Herbal & Traditional Medicine

Vietnamese traditional remedies are popular gifts, but they face scrutiny at US customs:

Must have clear ingredient labeling in English
Cannot contain prohibited substances (some traditional ingredients are banned)
Cannot make medical claims on packaging
Supplements need proper labeling per FDA rules

Wooden Items

Any solid wood packaging or products must comply with ISPM-15 standards:

Heat treatment or fumigation required
Must be stamped with ISPM-15 compliance mark
Bamboo products are generally exempt (bamboo is a grass, not wood)

What’s Completely Off-Limits

These items cannot be shipped from Vietnam to the US under any circumstances:

Fresh Food & Agriculture

Fresh fruits and vegetables — USDA prohibits these to prevent pest introduction
Fresh or frozen meat and poultry — strict USDA/FSIS regulations
Dairy products — most fresh dairy is prohibited
Live plants, seeds, and soil — agricultural quarantine rules
Fresh flowers — require phytosanitary certificates (impractical for personal shipments)

Endangered Species Products

Vietnam’s markets are full of items that look like harmless souvenirs but are actually illegal to import into the US:

Ivory in any form — jewelry, chopsticks, figurines
Tortoiseshell products
Certain seashells and coral — especially large decorative pieces
Exotic animal skins — snake, crocodile (unless with CITES permit)
Products made from endangered plants — certain types of rosewood, agarwood

Important: Even if you bought it legally in Vietnam, importing it to the US can result in confiscation and fines under the Endangered Species Act and CITES.

Other Prohibited Items

Counterfeit goods (fake designer items)
Weapons of any kind
Controlled substances
Fireworks and explosives
Certain batteries (lithium batteries have shipping restrictions)

The FDA Factor — What Expats Need to Know

The FDA is the biggest regulatory hurdle for shipping from Vietnam to the US, especially for food and cosmetics. Here’s what matters:

For food shipments:

FDA prior notice is required for all food entering the US
The notice must be filed before the shipment arrives at a US port
Failure to file = automatic detention at customs

For cosmetics:

Must comply with FDA labeling requirements
Cannot contain prohibited ingredients
No pre-approval needed, but must meet safety standards

For supplements and vitamins:

Fall under FDA’s Dietary Supplement regulations
Must have proper Supplement Facts labeling
Cannot make drug claims

How Gateway Express helps: We handle FDA prior notice filing as part of our service. Our team knows exactly what documentation is needed and ensures your shipment clears customs smoothly. This is included in our standard service — no extra fees.

Pro Tips from Our Team

After years of shipping thousands of packages from Vietnam to the US, here’s our practical advice:

Keep receipts for everything. US Customs (CBP) may request proof of value. Having receipts prevents delays and disputes over declared value.
Declare accurately. Undervaluing items to avoid duties is illegal and risky. If caught, your package can be seized, and you may face fines. It’s not worth it.
When in doubt, ask before packing. Not sure if something can be shipped? Ask us. We check regulations for free and can tell you exactly what’s allowed and what documentation is needed.
Photograph your items before shipping. Takes 30 seconds, saves headaches if something arrives damaged and you need to file a claim.
Ship food in sealed, labeled containers. Loose bags of spices or unmarked containers of sauce are red flags at customs. Proper packaging makes all the difference.

Not sure about a specific item? Contact our team — we check regulations for free and give you a straight answer.

Ship with Confidence

Now that you know what you can and can’t ship, you’re ready to get started. For a complete overview of the shipping process, check our complete expat shipping guide. Want to know what it’ll cost? See our shipping cost breakdown.

Ready to ship? Get a free quote — we’ll confirm everything is shippable and give you an exact price.