Tax-free guide · Asia

Tourist tax refunds in Vietnam are changing

It's changing. Vietnam's tourist refund rules are in transition, so Priceglot doesn't show a refund estimate here until the new rules are confirmed. Circular 84/2026/TT-BTC (30 Jun 2026, implementing Decree 252/2026) replaced the 2014 framework. Its minimum and invoice window could not be read yet. Old rule (Decision 05/2012): at least 2,000,000 VND per invoice including VAT, bought within 30 days before exit.

Last checked: not confirmed yet against an official source. Figures are estimates, not tax advice.

Vietnam at a glance

StatusChanging
SchemeVAT refund for foreigners on exit
Tax in the priceVAT, standard rate 10%
Not yet checked against an official source
Minimum spendNot confirmed yet
Where you get it backWhen you leave, at the airport or port
Typical refundAbout 85% of the tax
Customs Q&A (pre-2026 rules): bank service fee capped at 15% of the VAT refunded.
Who can claimForeigners and overseas Vietnamese with a foreign passport leaving with the goods.
DeadlineNot confirmed yet
Prices on tagsShelf prices include tax
Not yet checked against an official source

What could you get back?

Here's the arithmetic on a VND 10,000,000 purchase. The tax inside a price that includes 10% tax is 10/110 of it, about 9.1%.

Example purchase

Vietnam, standard rate

Price you pay, including taxVND 10,000,000
Tax inside it (10/110 of the price)VND 909,091

The European Central Bank doesn't publish a reference rate for VND, so this page doesn't convert it. The app uses live rates for VND.

No refund estimate while the scheme is changing.

An estimate, not a promise. Goods at a reduced rate get back less, and you only get a refund if customs and the operator approve your claim.

Want the real cost of a price tag here? Try the refund calculator, and read why you should always pay in local currency.

Questions

Can tourists get a tax refund in Vietnam?

Not confirmed. Circular 84/2026/TT-BTC (30 Jun 2026, implementing Decree 252/2026) replaced the 2014 framework. Its minimum and invoice window could not be read yet. Old rule (Decision 05/2012): at least 2,000,000 VND per invoice including VAT, bought within 30 days before exit. Priceglot shows no estimate for Vietnam until an official source confirms the rules.

Is it cheaper to buy things in Vietnam?

Only if the price on your card, after any tax refund you'll actually get, beats the price at home. Convert the tag at the mid-market rate, add your card's foreign transaction fee (often around 3% on bank cards, 0% on travel cards), and compare. Always pay in the local currency, because the shop's conversion costs more. Priceglot does this for every tag you point it at.

Sources

Vietnam Customs - VAT refund Q&A (checked 2 November 2026)

Last checked: not confirmed yet against an official source.