bringing cell phones to vietnam

[bduong89 14]

im planning on bringing about 5 cell phones to vietnam. all as gifts. i was wondering if anyone here have experience on this stuff and how i may go about getting thru customs with hassle.

thanks.

[luukee 18]

I think your best bet is to put them in your cargo shorts/pants, they rarely check your body going out of customs.

[bruins 14]

I'd have to agree with luukee. However, I've only brought 3 at one time, one was for my use and two were gifts. As long as they're gifts you should be ok.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi,

I brought 4 iPhones to VN last year. One was mine. The others were older models. Had no problem taking them through customs in my carry on bag. Declared them as used and as gifts when asked.

VN customs were more interested in the clothes I had in vacuum bags. They accused me of bringing in clothes to sell. I did it to keep my clothes clean and dry. After pulling out my old ratty boxers, they let me through.

Edited June 30, 2014 by aaron2020

[frontgear 194]

VN customs is treating foreigners differently than Vietnamese nationals. They do not dare to harass foreigners but their attitude towards a Vietnamese national is a totally different story.

OP: Prepare a $10 or $20 bill in your passport if you don't want any hassles at the final checkpoint (where they scan your luggage before letting you out the gate). My last trip to VN, I had an old iPad 2 and an iPhone 4 (for personal use) and since they could not find anything worth declaring in my luggage, the customs guy asked me how much money I was bringing back. I told him the amount was insignificant and way below the $5,000 limit. He still wanted to see my money. He held onto my passport and motioned me to come over to his desk, then said, "Give me $20 and I'll let you go". Knowing that my fiancee had been waiting for me outside the gate for over an hour, I gave him $10 and he gave me back my passport. I thought of it as money given to beggars on the street.

[aaron2020 11,651]

There is no need to bribe anyone.

I'm Viet Kieu, and I have not paid a bribe at a Vietnamese airport.

I also play the ignorant Viet Kieu and use English as much as possible in the airports.

Edited June 30, 2014 by aaron2020

[JRF 117]

I see them giving Viet Khieu hassles...they never bother me. I make it a point to play the ignorant, impatient American. They never expect me to know Vietnamese or the system there, and in this case that works to my advantage. I do keep a little money separate from my main stash just in case, but so far I've not been bothered.

Edited July 1, 2014 by JRF

[skyking02 11]

There is no need to bribe anyone.

I'm Viet Kieu, and I have not paid a bribe at a Vietnamese airport.

I also play the ignorant Viet Kieu and use English as much as possible in the airports.

report back to us when u bring 4 iphone back lol....

i carried 4 iphone 5 back last year. gave them $30 and i'm out of the gate.

[Tighfield 3]

I had a Samsung tablet and my samsung phone with me plus many gifts for my girl and her family. They never questioned me about my luggage at all. I never said "hello" or anything. Just watched what they were doing and went on. I came into the airport at 11:50PM, maybe that makes a difference for some? The difficult part was waiting for the luggage to appear before you go through customs. On the way back home, I had more difficulty with American customs than Vietnam customs. My buddy had the traditional brick of rice cakes and because it had meat, they took it. But all the foreigners before us lied about having food which caused us to wait almost 2 hours. I've only been one time and going again in September, so we will see if I get the same treatment.

Edited July 2, 2014 by Tighfield

[skyking02 11]

I had a Samsung tablet and my samsung phone with me plus many gifts for my girl and her family. They never questioned me about my luggage at all. I never said "hello" or anything. Just watched what they were doing and went on. I came into the airport at 11:50PM, maybe that makes a difference for some? The difficult part was waiting for the luggage to appear before you go through customs. On the way back home, I had more difficulty with American customs than Vietnam customs. My buddy had the traditional brick of rice cakes and because it had meat, they took it. But all the foreigners before us lied about having food which caused us to wait almost 2 hours. I've only been one time and going again in September, so we will see if I get the same treatment.

a tablet and a phone? they wont' bother you with that. they only bother people who are carrying more than 2 smartphones.

[skyking02 11]

they are allowing you to carry 2 phones without "taxing" you.

[bduong89 14]

thanks for all the replies guys. very much appreciated. and yes im a USC so i also play the i don't know vietnamese card and look grumpy going through.. will def have 2 phones on me and the rest will be in my luggage and if they ask im going to say its gifts for family. they arent the best phones. old LG iphone 3GS a 4S and a S3. so hopefully i wont get any extra hassle.

[siennaslammer 8]

thanks for all the replies guys. very much appreciated. and yes im a USC so i also play the i don't know vietnamese card and look grumpy going through.. will def have 2 phones on me and the rest will be in my luggage and if they ask im going to say its gifts for family. they arent the best phones. old LG iphone 3GS a 4S and a S3. so hopefully i wont get any extra hassle.

i had 2 ipads & 2 cell phones + laptop = all unboxed divided in my backpack & carry-on roller = no problems.

i did not put any electronics in any of my 2 check-in luggage bags

be careful of placing any electronics in "check-in luggage bags" = hands will be going thru those bags for certain.

so suggest not to do that.

good luck!

have a great & safe trip!

[bduong89 14]

Thanks for the heads up. Will definitely do that.

[JRF 117]

i had 2 ipads & 2 cell phones + laptop = all unboxed divided in my backpack & carry-on roller = no problems.

i did not put any electronics in any of my 2 check-in luggage bags

be careful of placing any electronics in "check-in luggage bags" = hands will be going thru those bags for certain.

so suggest not to do that.

good luck!

have a great & safe trip!

Great advice....always carry on anything of value. Anything in the checked luggage is subject to being "re-directed".