Vietnam

Decree No. 289/2026/ND-CP, effective 1 October 2026, expressly includes sailboats, sports boats and yachts in certain vessel entry/exit procedures. Its scope depends on the port authority responsible; this summary does not mean all Vietnamese ports use the same process.

Ports of entry / departure

APSA lists several yacht-service or destination cities, but that does not make them designated border ports for foreign private-yacht clearance. Vietnamese Decree No. 289/2026/ND-CP covers certain port border gates managed by the Ministry of Public Security. Government reporting names My Tho, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Hau Giang; this is not a complete national list of yacht entry ports. Confirm with Vietnamese maritime authorities and the intended port whether it clears private yachts before sailing.

Official rules and scope: Vietnam government explanation of vessel entry, exit and transit procedures

Yacht destination reference (not a designated port list): APSA Vietnam

The official explanation of Vietnam Decree No. 289/2026/ND-CP says vessel entry/exit procedures and required information follow maritime-management regulations; online versus in-person filing depends on the responsible port. The source gives no uniform advance-notice deadline for yachts. Confirm with the destination port.

Vietnam Decree No. 289/2026/ND-CP says foreign vessels and people aboard complete border checks at the first port of entry, and departure checks at the last port. This describes vessel border procedures and does not replace crew visa requirements based on nationality.

The Vietnam Trade Portal’s Customs procedure says seagoing vessels must submit a general declaration, crew list, stores declaration and other documents on arrival/departure. Its listed fee of VND 500,000 explicitly applies to transit vessels and is not a total entry fee for yachts. This is a general seagoing-vessel procedure; confirm yacht documents and temporary-import rules with Customs at the intended port.

The Vietnam National Trade Portal’s vessel procedure says that when a foreign-flagged vessel moves between Vietnamese ports, it must submit a port-transfer document issued by the health quarantine authority at the port of departure to the authority at the destination port. If the vessel has passed through an infected or suspected-infected area, crew/passengers may need to present International Certificates of Vaccination. This is a general vessel-port procedure, not yacht-specific guidance. Confirm quarantine treatment of food, pets, plants and vessel stores with health and agricultural quarantine authorities at the actual port.

The Vietnam National Trade Portal says regulated goods may require permits, approvals or certificates. Common categories include medicines, food safety, CITES-protected species and hazardous substances; its FAQ also says some goods are prohibited imports. The portal mainly describes traded cargo and is not a list of private yacht stores or their treatment when not landed. Before arrival, confirm requirements for food, animals/plants, pets, firearms, medicines and hazardous goods with Customs and quarantine authorities.

Arrival procedures

Vietnam Decree No. 289/2026/ND-CP took effect on 1 October 2026. The government says sailboats, sports boats and yachts are covered by vessel border-control procedures: an arriving foreign vessel completes entry formalities at its first port after entering Vietnam’s maritime border area; before leaving, it completes departure procedures at its final departure port. Ports under the Ministry of Public Security may use the National Single Window for electronic procedures. The decree does not mean every port or clearance authority follows the same process; check the port authority’s instructions before sailing.

Official source: Vietnam government explanation of vessel entry, exit and transit procedures

The Vietnam National Trade Portal lists a fee of VND 500,000 in its general seagoing-vessel Customs procedure for transit vessels only. This is not a uniform fee for yacht entry, temporary import or departure. The portal does not confirm private-yacht charges on this page; ask Customs at the specific port before clearance.