Page 62 - Japan’s Cultural Treasures

Vietnam

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precious stones, hilltribe handicrafts, including elaborate jewelry, colorful textiles, and opium
pipes, bronzeware cutlery, nielloware silver inlaid items, and lacquerware. Local products
include hand-woven cottons, decorative items made of silver, teakwood carvings, and gems.
The best bargains in gems are jade, rubies, and sapphires, but buy from reputable dealers only.

8P]NSLY_^ PYUZd YPRZ_TL_TYR []TNP^ LWXZ^_ PaP]dbSP]P M`_ TQ dZ` XLVP LY ZʬP] dZ` ^SZ`WO
be prepared to buy at that price. It is not unusual for the clerks in some stores in Vietnam to
follow, assist, and advise you throughout the store—much as a personal shopper would do in
the U.S. This is meant to be polite rather than pestering.

9Z_P LMZ`_ LY_T\`T_TP^%Think carefully before purchasing an expensive “antiquity.” It is illegal
to remove antique furniture or ceramics from Vietnam. To complicate matters further, any
item that looks old can only be exported with the written permission of the Antique Art
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this for you, but this may be unreliable.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges

For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs &
Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked
questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with
you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when
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shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-
door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges
would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service
(like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in
the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

• It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs &
Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile
skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

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