I am wasting my time bringing this Coffee/Tea back? It's not expensive but I don't want to have it thrown away.

On each of my trips, I brought back lots of stuff. The only things that got thrown away were chicken mooncakes. Any poultry products are definitely not allowed in. That includes processed ones like jerky or chicken mooncakes . Thi's sister had made about a dozen of chicken mooncakes for me to bring back for family and friends but they didn't make it past customs. There might be a problem in beef products but I don't know as I don't eat them. So bring all the coffee/tea you have room for!!!


Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Thanks Peter.

I've brought back tea, kho bo (beef jerky), Cashews and other edible seeds, and dried fruit. I had no problems going through customs .

I brought back tea two times and didn't have a problem either time. Actually, I was surprised because one time I brought back little dried fish with sauce. I told the guy, but when they x-rayed it, they said it was acceptable.


I brought back tea two times and didn't have a problem either time. Actually, I was surprised because one time I brought back little dried fish with sauce. I told the guy, but when they x-rayed it, they said it was acceptable.

I had bought tea at the famous Bao Loc place to bring back with me. Also, my wife usually packed several packages of coffee whenever I returned since her house is selling them. So yes, I have brought back both coffee and tea with me on several occasions.

No, you will not have any problems bringing coffee or tea back. Believe me, I've brought kilogram upon kilogram of it back. My family believes that too much is not enough. I've still got about 1.5 kg of very nice tea left. Anybody want it? How much tea can one man drink? What I wish is that Bia Hà Nội was a lot more portable.

Coffee and tea are fine to bring back to the US. I often bring back coffee. The Trung Nguyen brand is avaliable at all the Vietnamese stores here, so bringing that home isn't so special. Some of the iced tea type coffees or fresh beans might be a more unique item to bring home.

Beef Jerky is a big No No for California Resident. California is tough on this issue, other state should be ok. My mom got a big fine for the Beef Jerky she brought back for me. Other dried stuff should be ok. Coffee and Tea will be ok through the custom.

hahah, yeah, if you can bring beers back here is great. I like Beer Saigon better than Heineken when i was there. Heineken made from Vietnam sucked big time. Not a big fan of Corona.

Tea is fine. You can bring back most stuff. Just don't bring back fresh fruits, fruit seeds (for planting I guess?), land animal products like beef jerky. You can bring back sea food like dried squid.

When I brought back jerky I had to clear customs at LAX too. I declared it on my entry form and I just had to go through X-ray, no problems.

I brought home dried squid and fish with no problems. The officer asked what kind of food I had and when I told him he said "enjoy". Thao wants me to bring her some oil when I return. I can't remember what it is called but it smells minty and is in a green and silver packaged. She says it is better quality and cheaper to buy in the states than what you get in Vietnam. Does anyone know what it's called and the best place to buy it?

I'm back and I brought plenty of coffee and tea. In fact I could have had my wife in my suitcase. They didn't check anything in Chicago.

Roughly translated, it's called "green oil" (dau xanh). You can find it at most asian supermarkets or eastern medicine shops. The official brand is "Eagle Brand Medicated Oil." If you're coming from the states, all you friends/relatives over there will like getting a bottle as a gift. I usually bring back 1-2 cases to give away whenever I go back. Here's a link that has a picture of it:

http://www.veryasia.com/eabrmeoil.html

$5.25 a bottle? It was like $1 in Cai Be! I'll check with my wife and make sure, but I know it wasn't that much. It's good stuff. I drank it with a 7UP chaser.

Dave

It's called Eagle Brand Medicated Oil imported by Anhing Corp and I don't know if it's any different in the US or overseas now because when I did a google search, wikipedia said the formula has been updated and doesn't include Chloroform. They use to use a formula containing 12% chloroform and 20% methyl salicylate.. The FDA banned it because if that. The Eagle Brand Oil that Thi brought from Vietnam is from the Anhing Corp (assuming it's real and not a fake) has a level of mehtyl salicylate of 30%. Wikipedia states the Anhing formula is 4.5% so I'm confused as a search I did found different levels of chemicals from different retailers online. Mehtyl salicylate has a wintergreen smell but can be toxic. It's used in BenGay and other over the counter remedies as well. It's only to be used externally. Thi thinks it's cheaper in Vietnam. She brought a lot green oil and red oil with her. My quick search online found Eagle Brand Medicated Oil in the $4-6 range for a bottle (did find one place who ships worldwide for free but it's $16USD a bottle). As to quality, I don't know.

Glad to hear you're back WideAwakeintheUS!

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Thanks for your input Peter, Etrnaly and Wideawake. That is the stuff I was looking for. I will have to bring a couple cases with me when I go in May.
Welcome home Wideawake! I hope you had a good time.

Thanks everybody. I had a good time and everything went well. I miss Thuy and hope this processa goes smooth. I'll be writing about it later on.