Country Facts

Currency Vietnamese dong (VND)

GDP US$138 billion

Area 331,210 sq km

Population 92.4 million

Capital City Hanoi

Ethnic Groups Kinh (Viet) 85.7%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.8%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.5%, Mong 1.2%, Nung 1.1%, others 5.3% (1999 census)

Languages Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese, Khmer

Source: CIA World Factbook

Gateways

Service Centres

Ho Chi Minh CityBien Hoa

Hanoi

Hue

Nam Dinh

Hai Phong

Vung Tau

Da Nang

OVERVIEW

Over the past decade, Vietnam’s GDP growth has been second

only to China. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization

(WTO) in 2007. In 2013, Vietnam’s GDP increased 5.4 per

cent and 6 per cent growth is forecast each year from 2014 to

2017, on average. For the longer term, Vietnam’s economic

growth and development is expected to follow that of China.

Vietnam’s government recognises the need for reforms and

increased transparency to make the country more attractive

for international businesses. Promising sectors include power,

oil and gas as Vietnam is Southeast Asia’s third-largest oil

producer, mass transport and healthcare.

Vietnam has Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with partners

including China, Japan, Australia and Chile. Negotiations for

an FTA with the EU, the US and Russia are underway.

The EU works closely with Vietnam under the framework of

a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Bilateral trade

between Ireland and Vietnam reached €180 million in 2010

and Irish companies currently doing business in Vietnam

include ESB International, PM Group and Trinity Biotech.

Ireland’s Minister for Trade and Development visited Vietnam

in 2010 to assess the impact of Ireland’s development aid

programme and further trade between Ireland and Vietnam.

In the education sector, Ireland and Vietnam launched a

cooperation agreement in 2011 to increase the number of

Vietnamese university students in Ireland, which stood at

100,000 in 2010. Enterprise Ireland organised an education

mission to Vietnam in 2012. Ireland also continues to support

demining and bomb clearance in Vietnam.

Source: GOV.UK, Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

DHL VIETNAM FACT SHEET

DHL Vietnam Fact Sheet 2

Imports into Vietnam

US$114.3 billion (2012 est.)

Import commodities: Machinery and equipment, petroleum

products, steel products, raw materials

for the clothing and shoe industries,

electronics, plastics, automobiles.

Top Import Origins: China, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Netherlands, Hong Kong, France and Thailand.

DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE: 1,000,000 DONG

Ha Noi Document: 2 days Dutiable Shipment: 3-5 days depending on value

Hue Document: 5 days Dutiable Shipment: 6-8 days depending on value

Nam Dinh Document: 3 days Dutiable Shipment: 4-6 days depending on value

Ho Chi Minh Document: 2 days Dutiable Shipment: 3-5 days depending on value

Da Nang Document: 3 days Dutiable Shipment: 4-6 days depending on value

Ireland to Vietnam Transit TimesThe times provided for dutiable shipments are based on the time expected for customs in Vietnam to clear the shipment – this is dependent on the value of the shipment.

TRADE INFORMATION

Source: DHL, CIA World Factbook

Gateways into the country: 2 (SGN & HAN)

Number of Service Centres: 7

DHL Delivery Zone: 9

Fleet: 114 vehicles

Exports from Vietnam

US$114.6 billion (2012 est.)

Export commodities: Clothes, shoes, electronics, seafood,

crude oil, rice, coffee, wooden

products, machinery

Top Export Destinations: Russian Federation, Japan, UK, US, Germany, China, Hong Kong and France.

Ireland’s top five exports to Vietnam are:

1. Power-generating machinery and equipment2. General industrial machinery and equipment3. Medical and pharmaceutical products4. Professional and scientific instruments5. Miscellaneous manufacturing articles

Ireland’s top five imports from Vietnam are:

1. Footwear 2. Clothing accessories3. Furniture, bedding and mattresses4. Miscellaneous manufactured goods5. Coffee, tea and cocoa

Ireland is the third-largest EU investor in Vietnam

Source: UKTI’s Doing Business in Vietnam Guide

DHL FACTS

DHL Vietnam Fact Sheet 3

For more information

If you need support or advice on trading with Vietnam, help is available.

Contact the DHL Express team on 1890 725 725 (+353 1 870 0790 if you’re calling from outside of the Republic of Ireland).

Visit www.dhlguide.ie for international trade information

Chambers Ireland or your local Chamber of Commerce www.chambers.ie

Enterprise Ireland www.enterprise-ireland.com

Irish Exporters Association www.irishexporters.ie

PROHIBITED ITEMS

The list below is in addition to DHL’s standard list of prohibited items.

Valid from: 08/2014

• Prohibited Items• Antiques• Asbestos• Dangerous goods, hazardous or combustible materials• Firearms, and parts of• Furs• Ivory• Jewellery• Pornography• Precious metals & stones• Used and secondhand items, especially technology

appliances/components/parts• Publications (including diaries, calendars, maps) that

reference ‘South China Sea’ will be destroyed by Customs

DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE

1,000,000 Dong based on CIF value (Cost, Insurance &

Freight value). Shipments up to this value are exempt from

duty, but VAT and Special Sales Tax may still apply.

ESSENTIAL CUSTOMS INFORMATION

Top Tip: Commercial Invoice must clearly state itemised

products and value. The term of trade (the incoterm rule)

must also be stated on the invoice. If an Incoterm rule isn’t

stated then a local Freight charge will be applied to the

shipment for tax and duty calculations.