Moving from Italy to Vietnam
A long sea haul from the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal to Southeast Asia. The shipping is routine. What catches Italians out is that Vietnam taxes used household goods rather than waving them through, so the customs bill matters as much as the freight.
This is a long ocean move from the Mediterranean to the Pacific edge of mainland Asia. A container leaves an Italian port, usually Genoa, La Spezia or Livorno, sails east through the Suez Canal and across the Indian Ocean, and arrives at Cat Lai near Ho Chi Minh City in the south or at Hai Phong, the gateway for Hanoi, in the north. Da Nang serves the centre. The route is well served by the main shipping lines, so the logistics are the predictable part of this corridor.
The detail that surprises Italians is the customs treatment. Many countries admit a transferring resident's used effects duty free, but Vietnam does not give foreigners a broad exemption. The General Department of Vietnam Customs generally assesses duty on imported used household goods, with rates that fall heavily on electronics and appliances, so the tax can be a real line in your budget rather than a formality. Plan for it, and ship deliberately. One piece of good news offsets it: Vietnam runs on a 220 volt, 50 hertz supply, the same as Italy, so your appliances and electronics will actually work once they clear. Everything below gives you the numbers, the ports, and the Vietnamese offices and documents you will deal with.
What it costs to move from Italy to Vietnam.
The numbers below are indicative ranges for Italy to Vietnam in 2026, quoted in euros because that is what movers price on this lane from Italy. They cover the sea freight and delivery only. Vietnamese import duty is assessed separately on the value of your goods, so treat it as a distinct cost on top.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in euros for freight and delivery, the currency movers quote on this corridor from Italy. The drivers are volume in cubic metres, shared versus sole use container, the season, and the delivery distance from Cat Lai or Hai Phong to your address. Vietnamese import duty on used goods is extra and is assessed by customs on arrival.
- + Lowest cost for a one or two bedroom load
- + You pay only for the space you use
- × Slower, as the container consolidates
- × Less control over the sailing date
- + Holds a small two to three bedroom home
- + Ships on your schedule, so it is faster
- × You pay for the whole box even if part empty
- + Right for what you cannot wait weeks for
- + Bridges the gap while the sea load crosses
- × Uneconomic for a whole household
Four levers move the number. Volume in cubic metres is the biggest, so a real declutter before the survey is the cheapest saving you will make. Mode comes next, with shared container space cheaper but slower than a sole use box. Duty is the lever unique to this destination, because Vietnam taxes used goods and rates fall hardest on electronics, so shipping fewer high value appliances can cut both freight and tax. Access and delivery from Cat Lai or Hai Phong to your address adds cost for a home outside the main cities. Insist on a binding pre move survey so the volume, and therefore the price, is real.
A realistic schedule for this move.
A move through the Suez Canal rewards early planning. Work backwards from when you need to be in Vietnam, and leave room for the work permit and for customs clearance, which can be slow without the right paperwork.
Survey and book the sailing
Get a video or in home survey for an accurate volume, decide what to leave behind to limit Vietnamese duty, and book shared or sole use container space from an Italian port.
Arrange your work permit and visa
Line up your Vietnamese work permit and the temporary residence card or business visa, because customs wants to see your status. Gather your passport, a detailed inventory in English, and notarised copies.
Pack, inventory and load
The crew packs and produces a full English inventory. The container is sealed and trucked to the Italian port for export.
Suez transit to Vietnam
The vessel sails east through the Suez Canal and across the Indian Ocean and arrives at Cat Lai near Ho Chi Minh City or at Hai Phong for Hanoi.
Customs clearance and delivery
Your agent lodges the documents, customs assesses any duty on the used goods, you settle it, and the shipment is delivered to your Vietnamese address.
Bringing your household goods into Vietnam.
Vietnamese customs is run by the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Unlike many destinations, Vietnam does not give foreign arrivals a broad duty free allowance on used household goods. In practice a foreigner moving on a work permit can expect customs to assess duty on the shipment, and the rates are higher on electronics and electrical appliances than on plain furniture. This is the single biggest difference between this corridor and a move to, say, Panama or much of Europe, so build the tax into your plan rather than hoping to avoid it.
The paperwork is specific. Customs typically wants your passport with the entry stamp, your work permit valid for at least a year, your temporary residence card or a valid business visa, the original ocean bill of lading, and a detailed inventory written in English, often with several notarised copies of each document. You usually need to be in Vietnam in person at the time of clearance. Restricted and prohibited items follow the regional pattern, with tight controls on weapons, certain printed and recorded media, and used items in poor condition, and pets need their own import paperwork and health certificates. Because your appliances run on the same 220 volt supply as Italy, the question is duty, not whether they will work.
How people from Italy actually settle in Vietnam.
Vietnam ties your move to your status, and there is no general retirement route, so most Italians on this corridor arrive through work or investment. These are the realistic paths.
An employer in Vietnam sponsors your work permit, and you then obtain a temporary residence card that lets you live and re enter the country. This is the standard route for Italians taking a job in Vietnam, and it is the status customs wants to see when clearing your goods.
- Best for
- Sponsored employees
- Tied to
- A Vietnamese employer
- Note
- Customs checks this status
Founders and investors in a Vietnamese company can apply for an investor category visa and a longer temporary residence card, with the length tied to the size of the investment. It suits Italians setting up or buying into a business.
- Best for
- Company owners
- Basis
- Qualifying investment
- Note
- Length scales with investment
A spouse or child of a Vietnamese citizen, or a dependant of a work permit holder, can apply for a temporary residence card on family grounds. It is the common route for Italians married to a Vietnamese national.
- Best for
- Spouses and dependants
- Basis
- Family relationship
- Note
- Needs registered documents
For shorter assignments and exploratory trips, a Vietnamese e visa allows a stay of up to ninety days. It does not support a household import on its own, so movers usually pair it with a work permit before shipping a full home.
- Best for
- Short assignments
- Validity
- Up to 90 days
- Note
- Not enough alone for customs
How to choose a mover for this route, with no names attached.
This site never names, ranks, or recommends a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that separates a safe international mover from a risky one. Apply it to every quote you receive.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Italy to Vietnam?
As indicative ranges for 2026, a 2 to 3 bedroom move runs roughly 5,500 to 11,000 euros in shared container space, and 8,000 to 13,000 euros in a sole use 20ft container, covering freight and delivery. Vietnamese import duty on used goods is assessed separately on arrival, so budget for it on top.
How long does shipping take from Italy to Vietnam?
Plan on about 6 to 9 weeks door to door by sea. The vessel sails east through the Suez Canal from an Italian port such as Genoa to Cat Lai near Ho Chi Minh City or to Hai Phong for Hanoi, and shared container space adds time for consolidation.
Do I pay duty on my furniture moving to Vietnam?
Usually yes. Vietnam does not give foreign arrivals a broad duty free allowance on used household goods, and customs generally assesses duty, with higher rates on electronics and appliances. Settle your work permit first and verify the current rates with the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Will my appliances work in Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam runs on a 220 volt, 50 hertz supply, the same as Italy, so your appliances and electronics will work once they clear customs. The question on this corridor is the import duty on those items, not the voltage.
Do I need a work permit before I move to Vietnam?
In practice yes. Customs wants to see your work permit and temporary residence card or a valid visa before releasing a household shipment, and there is no general retirement route. Arrange your status before you ship.
Which port does my shipment arrive at in Vietnam?
Shipments for the south and Ho Chi Minh City usually arrive at Cat Lai, those for Hanoi and the north at Hai Phong, and central Vietnam is served by Da Nang. Your delivery address decides the routing and the inland leg.