receiving packages from America...anyone else experiencing this?

lord enki Active member

Member since 17 December 2018

lord enkiActive member04 February 2020 17:42:37

I have been living in VN for going on 5 years now. when I first arrived here and ordered something from America FedEx would just knock on my apartment door with the package and I would pay the tax and that would be it...no problems. since then it has been getting increasingly more difficult to get that package from FedEx to me. example: I ordered some books (a small quantity) and had to go to the Information and Communications office and get an import license for 8 books! I ordered some bath wash and hand lotion (10 items) and now I have to go to the Food and Drug Administration to get these items cleared! I ordered an electric toothbrush (clearly marked on the invoice) and they tell me that there is no tooth brush in the actual package! maybe someone has an explanation for all the increased paper work....just asking

Wald0 Serial expat

Member since 08 March 2015

Wald0Serial expat04 February 2020 17:48:21

335

this is the reason I'm happy to pay 10usd/kg to freight forwarding company and save me from this shit

flashylawnmower Member

Member since 09 October 2018

flashylawnmowerMember05 February 2020 01:57:10

@Wald0 what freight forwarding company do you use?

@lord enki how did you know you needed to get more documents to allow them in?

I have a package shipped from US by US Postal Service. It arrived in HCM 1/31 but hasn't been delivered yet- not sure if I need more paperwork. Does anyone know how I can check? USPS doesn't give me much information....

lord enki Active member

Member since 17 December 2018

lord enkiActive member05 February 2020 03:23:39

I got an email from FedEx

mmain Member

Member since 24 October 2024

mmainMember21 August 2025 03:14:13

@lord enki

I know this is a long time ago, but what sort of response did you get from FedEx?

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member21 August 2025 05:42:41

7495

@lord enki I know this is a long time ago, but what sort of response did you get from FedEx? - @mmain

this is the reason I'm happy to pay 10usd/kg to freight forwarding company and save me from this shit - @Wald0

This is the much better option.

I only use DHL for "documents" which include unopened mail (including ATM and credit cards sent directly from the issuer; remaining sealed).

My courier service (freight forwarder) in Westminster (Little Saigon) California charges $42 USD for a minimum 10 pound/4.536 kg, though I suspect a small part of that fee goes to my Vietnamese friend in San Diego who receives all of my Amazon shipments and acts as my middleman.

Everything comes directly to my door in Đà Nẵng without any further charges.

As always, it's usually good in Vietnam to put the phone number of a Vietnamese person you know on the front of the package, as the local delivery people will call ahead before delivering the package and it's not uncommon to have them refuse to deliver without clear confirmation of the address