Customs Admin

Have you tried handing the process over to a removals company? Those specialising in international projects would be best.

Biggest issue would be packing it suitably for transport - professional packers would be able to make a custom crate
Dare i ask value ?

Looking at it logically from the shipper's perspective you are asking to pack, crate and ship a 200 year old item that by virtue of design is exceedingly fragile.  It's irreplaceable due to it's age-insurance cannot go out and just buy a replacement.  The slightest imprefection upon receipt may very well cause you great grief.   Then subsequently trying to negotiate a percentage settlement from the total value because some feature didn't survive the trip would be difficult for them and not accepted by you.  You very well may be passionate about any flaw because it's your "most cherished item".  Now, you may accept some damage, scratches or cracks as a risk of the move and that would make it easier.

While those services must be out there for rare works of art, etc.  I think they will be exceedingly expensive.  I don't think you will find a general shipping company that would sign up for a $2,000 shipping charge for one item that he would very likely lose that amount or more if it doesn't go perfectly. 

Then you have the issue of duty to import something that doesn't have a readily available value that they can extract from a table to assign a value.

I think you are going to have a difficult time finding anyone that will take on all of the risks above for anything less than an over-the-top fee.  It's easier for them to just take a pass on that contract.

SteinNebraska wrote:

Looking at it logically from the shipper's perspective you are asking to pack, crate and ship a 200 year old item that by virtue of design is exceedingly fragile.  It's irreplaceable due to it's age-insurance cannot go out and just buy a replacement.  The slightest imprefection upon receipt may very well cause you great grief.   Then subsequently trying to negotiate a percentage settlement from the total value because some feature didn't survive the trip would be difficult for them and not accepted by you.  You very well may be passionate about any flaw because it's your "most cherished item".  Now, you may accept some damage, scratches or cracks as a risk of the move and that would make it easier.

While those services must be out there for rare works of art, etc.  I think they will be exceedingly expensive.  I don't think you will find a general shipping company that would sign up for a $2,000 shipping charge for one item that he would very likely lose that amount or more if it doesn't go perfectly. 

Then you have the issue of duty to import something that doesn't have a readily available value that they can extract from a table to assign a value.

I think you are going to have a difficult time finding anyone that will take on all of the risks above for anything less than an over-the-top fee.  It's easier for them to just take a pass on that contract.

Thats why i suggested handing over to an expert to pack, auction houses do it all the time and will be able to suggest a reputable case maker.

Over the years we carried several items on behalf of Sothebys, Christies to name a few. It is a specialist service and will not come cheap for sure.

At the end of the say if the item is rare enough, and the owner desperately wanrs the item here then thats the sort of service he will be looking at.

Do you have a better suggestion?...

I've  contacted “Shipping & Moving” companies and there's indeed a cost to crating up the old dear. However the biggest complication is this end, hence my point about customs. It must be doable: reluctant to believe that one could bring it 14,000 kilometres  and fall at the final hurdle. But until I figure out a solution, it's staying put. As are we all, I guess.

Out of curiousity how much is it worth?

http://customs.sirva.com/countries/vietnam/vietnam

Quite useful info in personal imports

Its valuation for insurance purposes is approx $4,000   It has been in my family for many years (e.g. generations) so I feel an obligation. It's strange how certain an inanimate thing (say, a Christmas tree) can cast a spell.
This morning I emailed 2 or 3 Saigon based customs agencies and they're making enquiries.

I totally get the fact that it is part of the family.  But when the cost to ship may reasonably approach the value of the item then the thought is, would there be someone that would be willing to caretake of the item in England long term?  Vietnam may just be a temporary stay for you and your wife, as it is mine.  Perhaps you will return to England with her and you would be terribly upset to have to reverse the process that you undertook only a couple of years prior.