2026 Ho Chi Minh City Airport VAT Refund Guide｜Tan Son Nhat Airport VAT Refund process, locations and important notes

If you buy designer goods in Ho Chi Minh City, you can apply for a refund before departure.

If you purchase clothing, shoes, bags, cosmetics, electronics or other eligible items in Ho Chi Minh City, you can apply for a VAT refund at 新山一國際機場（Tan Son Nhat International Airport） before leaving Vietnam. However, a refund is not possible with an ordinary receipt — when shopping make sure the store offers VAT Refund for Tourists service.

The most important threshold is: eligible purchases from the same store on the same day must total at least 2,000,000 越南盾（約 NT$1,960／人民幣 ¥560／港幣 HK$590）. Multiple receipts from the same store on the same day can generally be combined, but receipts from different stores or different dates cannot. Present your passport at checkout and ask the staff to issue a formal Invoice cum Tax Refund Declaration; name, passport number and product details must be accurate.

How much can be refunded? It’s not 85% of the total purchase amount.

The refund amount is 85% of the VAT on eligible goods, with the remaining 15% typically charged as a refund service fee — it is not 85% of the whole purchase. In 2026 the VAT for most applicable goods is temporarily 8%, so the actual refund is about 6.8% of the pre-tax price; if calculated from the tax-included receipt the percentage will be slightly lower. Alcohol, tobacco, certain special excise items, items already used or items that cannot be taken out of the country may not qualify for a refund.

Goods usually must remain brand new, unused and in their original packaging at the time of departure, and must be taken out of Vietnam within the specified period. To avoid differences in store systems or policies, ask the staff at purchase whether you can process the refund for your flight date.

Correct VAT refund procedure at Tan Son Nhat Airport

First step: do NOT rush to check in the tax-refund items. After arriving at the international terminal departure hall, first look for the customs Goods to declare／Khai báo hải quan or VAT refund customs inspection signage. This customs inspection point is before the security check and departure procedures; be ready with your passport, boarding pass, original shopping invoices, refund forms, and all items for which you want a refund.

After customs officers verify the goods and documents, they will stamp the refund form. Without the customs stamp, you cannot collect cash at the refund counter later. If refund items are to be placed in checked baggage, complete the customs inspection first and then hand the luggage to the airline; do not check the bag first and then go back to find customs.

Second step: complete airline check-in, security screening and immigration. Bring the stamped refund documents and boarding pass, enter the airside for international flights, and follow airport signs to Tax Refund／Quầy hoàn thuế. Many travelers report the counter is located near gates 8–9, but follow the latest on-site signage.

Third step: go to the refund counter to get your refund. Present your passport, boarding pass, stamped refund form and original invoices. Refunds are usually processed at designated bank counters; you can choose Vietnamese dong cash or other available methods per the current arrangement; if you want another currency it will be converted at the issuing bank’s rate.

Details most easily overlooked during the actual process

It is recommended to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before an international flight; if you have many purchases, many documents, or it’s your first time processing a refund, allow more time. Refund counters are not necessarily open 24 hours — even if there are late-night flights, service may be suspended due to staffing or on-site arrangements; don’t leave refund processing until the last ten minutes before boarding.

A photocopy of the passport, a passport photo on your phone, or ordinary shop receipts cannot replace official documents. Do not unpack, wear or discard packaging while at the hotel. If you buy designer goods, handbags or high-value electronics, the safest approach is to put the goods, packaging, invoices and refund form in the same bag and bring them directly to customs for inspection at the airport.

If you are flying from the airport back to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan or Korea, consider completing the refund in the last half day before scheduling a massage or rest. Before leaving District 1, you can go to Win Royal Spa, address 48 Lê Thị Hồng Gấm, open daily 09:00–22:00, for a Vietnamese head-wash massage; afterwards go to the airport — luggage and refund documents will be easier to organize.