Personal Medication Import Guide for Medicines – Vietnam

Vietnam allows individuals to import prescription and specialty medicines for personal medical treatment, but the process is closely monitored by the Vietnam Drug Administration (DAV) and Vietnam Customs. Specialty medicines — including oncology drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, and rare-disease treatments — require detailed documentation to ensure personal use.

This guide explains everything patients must know before importing personal-use medicines into Vietnam.

Is Personal Import Allowed in Vietnam?

Yes. Vietnam permits personal import of prescription and specialty medicines under strict conditions:

• Medicines must be for personal, non-commercial use.
• Quantity must align with medical need (usually 1–3 months’ supply).
• Some medicines require DAV approval, depending on their ingredients or classification.
• Controlled substances require special permissions.

Specialty Medicines That Require Extra Screening

Vietnam monitors and may require additional checks for:

• Cancer and chemotherapy medicines
• Immunotherapy & targeted treatments
• Biologics and biosimilars
• Hormonal or endocrine therapies
• Rare-disease/orphan medicines
• Injectables (IV, IM, SC)
• Medicines containing psychotropic or narcotic ingredients

Controlled drugs need a special import permit from Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MoH).

Required Documents

To ensure smooth customs clearance, prepare:

Doctor’s Prescription

Must include:

• Patient’s full name
• Medicine name, strength, dosage
• Treatment duration
• Doctor and hospital details

Medical Summary / Treatment Plan

Explains:

• Diagnosis
• Reason for the specific medicine
• Duration and dosage schedule

Invoice / Proof of Purchase

Should clearly show:

• Product name
• Strength & formulation
• Quantity purchased

Identification Document

Passport or Vietnam ID (for residents).

Cold-Chain Note (if applicable)

Vietnam Customs & Drug Administration Regulations

When your shipment arrives:

• Customs may inspect the parcel
• DAV may request medical documentation
• Controlled drugs require prior authorization
• Unclear documentation may lead to delays
• Packages without medical justification may be returned

In some cases, DAV may require confirmation from the treating physician.

Taxes & Import Duties

Vietnam may charge:

• Import duty
• Value Added Tax (VAT)

Tax depends on the type and declared value of the medicine.

Quantity Limits

Common allowance:

• 1–3 months’ supply of prescription/specialty medicine
• Large quantities trigger customs investigation
• Bulk imports may be interpreted as commercial intent

Always match the quantity to the treatment duration shown in the medical documents.

Controlled Medicines

Medicines containing:

• Narcotic ingredients
• Psychiatric chemicals
• Opioids
• Strong pain medicines
• Certain neurological drugs

Require special approval from the Vietnam Ministry of Health.

Importing controlled medicines without a permit may lead to seizure.

Possible Customs Outcomes

Depending on the medicine and documents, your shipment may be:

1. Released to the recipient
2. Held for request of documents
3. Reviewed by DAV for approval
4. Taxed before release
5. Returned or seized if non-compliant

Proper paperwork avoids most issues.

Official Links for Customer Verification

• Vietnam Drug Administration (DAV) – Ministry of Health
  https://dav.gov.vn
• Vietnam Customs – Import Guidelines
  https://www.customs.gov.vn
• MoH Controlled Substances Regulations
  https://moh.gov.vn

These help customers verify rules directly.

Important Notes

• Personal-use imports do not require product registration.
• Documents must match the patient receiving the shipment.
• Cold-chain imports must be properly insulated and clearly labeled.
• Vietnam has strict rules on narcotics & psychotropics — always check if your medicine is controlled.