VAT Refund in Vietnam

(Photo: Vishwesh/Adobe Stock)

1. Who is eligible?

To claim a VAT (Value Added Tax) refund, you must:

• Hold a foreign passport (not be a Vietnamese citizen).

• Not be a crew member of a flight or ship leaving Vietnam.

• Leave Vietnam through one of the approved exit points (international airports such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, etc.).

2. Conditions for goods

Not all your purchases are necessarily refundable. The following conditions apply:

• Minimum amount: The total value of purchases on a single invoice (or several invoices from the same shop on the same day) must be at least 2,000,000 VND (about 80 USD).

• Time limit: The goods must have been bought within the 60 days before your departure.

• Condition: Items must be new, unused and packaged. They must not appear on the list of products banned from export.

• Refund rate: In 2026, the standard VAT rate is 8% (or 10% depending on the category). You usually get back 85% of the total VAT amount, with the remainder (15%) kept by the bank as an administrative service fee.

3. Step-by-step procedure

Step 1: When you buy

Look for shops displaying the “VAT Refund for Tourists” logo. When you pay:

• Show your original passport.

• Ask the sales assistant for a VAT Refund Invoice and a refund declaration. Make sure your personal details on them are correct.

Step 2: At the airport (before check-in)

Before checking in your luggage, go to the Customs counter to have the goods inspected:

• Present your passport, the original invoices and the goods.

• The officer will stamp your documents “Checked”.

• Note: If the items are in your hold luggage, do this before going to your airline’s check-in desk.

Step 3: After immigration (collecting your cash)

Once you have passed through security and immigration:

• Head to the VAT Refund counter (run by banks such as BIDV or VietinBank) in the transit area.

• Present your passport, your boarding pass and the invoices stamped by customs.

• The refund will be paid to you immediately in Vietnamese dong (VND) or onto your bank card, depending on the options available.

4. List of participating exit points

The service is available at the main international hubs:

• Airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang, Cam Ranh (Nha Trang), Phu Quoc.

• Seaports: Some international ports also accept claims from cruise passengers.

5. Practical tips

• Arrive early: Allow at least 30 to 45 extra minutes at the airport to complete these formalities, especially in high season.

• Keep your invoices intact: Do not lose the originals; copies are not accepted.

• Conversion: If you receive the refund in VND, you can change it into foreign currency at the airport bureaux de change before take-off.