Tourist shipping FAQ

Express shipping via DHL/FedEx/UPS typically takes 2-5 business days to most destinations. Asian countries (Japan, Korea, China) are fastest at 2-3 days. US, UK, and Australia take 3-5 days.

Yes! We offer free pickup in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Just tell us your hotel address, preferred time, and we will come to collect your items.

Yes, we prepare all customs documentation including commercial invoices and export declarations. You just need to provide item descriptions and values.

DHL, FedEx, and UPS have dedicated customs brokerage teams. If additional documentation is needed, the carrier will contact you. We also assist with any customs queries after shipment.

Yes, every shipment gets a tracking number. You can track your package in real-time on the carrier website (DHL, FedEx, or UPS) or through our tracking page.

Rates start from $20-35/kg depending on the destination country and carrier (DHL, FedEx, or UPS). We provide free quotes — just message us on WhatsApp with your items and destination.

It depends on the destination country and shipment value. Many countries have a duty-free threshold (e.g., AUD 1,000 for Australia, $150 for South Korea). We help you declare items correctly to minimize duties.

Yes, we recommend insurance for valuable items like art, jewelry, and electronics. Insurance typically costs 2-3% of the declared value and covers loss or damage during transit.

We accept cash (VND or USD), bank transfer, and major credit cards. Payment is collected at pickup or after we confirm the final weight and price.

Most souvenirs and personal items can be shipped: coffee, tea, ceramics, textiles, art, lacquerware, spices, and clothing. Restricted items include fresh food, meat, plants, seeds, and antiques (pre-1945).

Yes, we offer professional packing services for ceramics, glass, art, and other fragile items. We use bubble wrap, foam, and rigid boxes to ensure safe delivery. Packing service is included in the price.

Yes, we handle heavy items up to 30-70kg per piece via express carriers. For very large items, we recommend contacting us for a custom quote. Wooden crating is available for extra protection.

Commercially packaged food items like coffee, tea, and sealed spices can usually be shipped. However, fresh food, meat products, and homemade items are generally prohibited. Destination country rules vary — we will check for you.

Absolutely! Vietnamese coffee is one of the most popular items we ship. It must be in sealed, commercial packaging. We ship coffee to all major destinations regularly.

We use acid-free tissue paper, corner protectors, and rigid flat boxes for paintings. Large canvases are crated. We have experience shipping lacquer art, oil paintings, and prints from Vietnam safely.

Yes, we handle heavy items up to 30-70kg per piece via express carriers. For very large items, we recommend contacting us for a custom quote. Wooden crating is available for extra protection.

We use acid-free tissue paper, corner protectors, and rigid flat boxes for paintings. Large canvases are crated. We have experience shipping lacquer art, oil paintings, and prints from Vietnam safely.

Yes, we ship furniture via express carriers for smaller pieces. Items are professionally packed with foam, cardboard, and stretch wrap. Contact us with dimensions and weight for a quote.

Express shipping via DHL, FedEx, or UPS typically delivers in 2-5 business days. The US, Australia, and UK take 3-5 days; Asian destinations like Japan or South Korea average 2-3 days. We confirm exact transit times in your quote.

Coffee must be in original, factory-sealed commercial packaging with a visible brand name and ingredients label. Resealed bags, bulk-bin coffee in plain bags, or homemade packaging will be flagged or rejected by customs. We inspect every bag before shipping.

It depends on the declared shipment value. For the US, de minimis dropped to $0 for Vietnamese-origin goods in August 2025, so duties and fees may apply — accurate declaration is important. Australia charges GST on shipments above AUD 1,000. We include all required customs paperwork with every shipment.

All three ship under the same commercially-sealed rule and clear customs equally. Practically: instant sachets (e.g., G7) give the highest cup yield per kilogram shipped — ideal for gifts. Whole beans offer the most freshness flexibility at the destination. Ground coffee is the most popular and widely available in retail-ready vacuum-sealed bags.

There is no strict per-shipment limit for personal or gift quantities. We routinely ship 5-20 kg for individual tourists. Quantities above 30-50 kg may appear commercial and could require import permits at the destination — contact us and we will advise based on your destination country.

Keep each piece in its store bag or original packaging and do not re-wrap in clothing. Point out the most fragile items — thin-walled teaware, pieces with handles or spouts — and have your receipts ready for customs declaration. We will assess and repack everything professionally at pickup.

For souvenir ceramics, insurance is optional but inexpensive. For art-quality Bát Tràng pieces, collector pottery, or any item you cannot replace, we strongly recommend insurance at approximately 2-3% of the declared value. Always declare the real purchase price — under-declaring voids coverage.

Fired ceramics contain no soil, seeds, or biological material, so they clear biosecurity in every major destination (US, Australia, UK, Canada, Germany) without restrictions. Customs attention is on declared value and applicable import duties — keep your receipt and declare accurately.

We regularly ship floor-standing vases and large decorative urns. Pieces over 10 kg or with fragile protrusions may require custom crating rather than standard double-boxing. Contact us with dimensions and a photo — we will recommend the right packing method and carrier.

If you purchased shipping insurance and a piece arrives damaged, we open a claim with the carrier on your behalf. Coverage reimburses the declared value. For uninsured shipments, liability is limited to the carrier's standard terms. This is why we recommend insurance for any piece you value — the cost is small relative to the peace of mind.

No problem — this is one of the most common situations we handle. Your tailor can deliver the finished pieces directly to our Đà Nẵng or Hồ Chí Minh City office on your behalf. Just give us the tailor's contact details and agreed delivery window before you fly, and we coordinate the rest. Your garments ship within 1-2 business days of receipt.

Yes. We can split a single pickup into two separate shipments going to different addresses — useful if you bought pieces as gifts for family overseas and want your own items shipped home separately. Each shipment gets its own tracking number and customs declaration. Request split-delivery when filling out the quote form.

We pack with acid-free tissue paper at every fold and use breathable (non-plastic) garment wrap — plastic traps moisture against natural silk and sets creases. On your end, hang the garment immediately after opening; most transit folds fall out within a few hours. If needed, use a clothes steamer on low heat held 3-4 cm from the fabric. Do not iron silk directly — direct heat damages the protein fibres and leaves permanent sheen marks.

It depends on your destination. Australia is duty-free under AUD 1,000. Canada benefits from CPTPP 0% duty on most textile categories. Germany/EU applies EVFTA rates of 0-2%. The UK charges 20% VAT above £135. The US eliminated the de minimis exemption in August 2025, so all shipments are dutiable regardless of value — typical rates for Vietnamese silk garments run 7-12% under HS 6204. We include guidance on accurate declaration with every shipment.

A single custom áo dài with standard accessories typically weighs 1-1.5 kg. Multiple pieces or accessories (conical hats, sashes) can reach 2-3 kg. Because silk garments are voluminous, dimensional weight often determines cost more than actual weight — we assess both and quote accordingly. Delivery time is typically 3-5 business days via DHL/FedEx/UPS express to the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany.

It can — if packed incorrectly. The lacquer surface cracks when the piece vibrates against hard surfaces or when temperature changes are rapid. We prevent this with foam corner protectors, bubble wrap, a rigid board sandwich, and double-boxing. Large panels get custom wooden crates. Pieces that survive the packing stage almost always arrive undamaged.

Items produced before 1945 are classified as cultural heritage under Vietnamese law and require an export licence from the Ministry of Culture before they can leave the country. Modern sơn mài (post-1945) has no export restriction. When buying from a gallery, ask for a certificate of authenticity that confirms the production date — this protects you at both customs and for insurance purposes.

The key difference is no adhesive contact with the lacquer surface — even masking tape applied directly can dull the finish permanently. We wrap every piece in acid-free tissue or glassine first, then bubble wrap secured around the tissue, foam corner protectors on all edges, and a double-walled box. Panels over 10kg or 80cm get a custom timber crate.

In many cases yes — sơn mài paintings often qualify as original art under HS 9701 (US, some EU classifications), which carries 0% import duty. Decorative boxes and trays may be classified as handicrafts rather than fine art, which can attract a small duty. We advise on the likely classification at quote stage. Keep your gallery receipt as it supports the art declaration.

We do not publish per-kg rates for lacquerware because the final cost depends on the weight and dimensions of the specific piece, whether custom crating is required, your chosen insurance level, and the destination. Contact us via WhatsApp with a photo and approximate dimensions — we typically provide a quote within a few hours during business hours.