海角乱伦

So my GF suggests I bring makeup and supplements back to VN when I come. Of course, the purpose would be to resell them to her friends. According to her, people in VN have a lot of confidence in products from the US. I don't know if it is her personality or a broad mindset but she is always assuming things are fake and out of date. Obviously, a lot of fake stuff is around but even US produced sold here are considered fake like Hershey chocolate bars, etc.I will have the ability of filling at least one whole suitcase with stuff but I am not sure if Customs will buy my claim of the items being "gifts" or not. When I entered VN at HCMC, I only had a carry-on and no one even checked it.Is there a demand for these items or others? - @Dannyroc3

Danger! Danger! Will Robinson!

Too often this is how mules are recruited, even by spouses.

Big Red Flag since you guys aren't even married or (apparently) officially engaged yet.

Vietnamese people do this all the time (many, many boxes in accompanied baggage) but they know how to navigate customs.

You face the possibility of deportation if customs & immigration decide you are being deceptive.

Please note that she has already jumped the normal step of asking you to bring back a few favorite items and is already proposing that you support her entrepreneurial scheme.

You would be assuming ALL risk while she wouldn't be risking anything.

I truly do hope that you end up having a long & happy relationship together, but I've personally been worried about you since you first evolved from an online teacher-student connection to a romantic relationship while still in the states.

There will likely be a number of replies saying I'm FOS and you should go ahead and do it.

I'd just hate to see you in danger of repeating a story we've seen many, many times in the past.

My only real suggestion is to get the money in advance, purchase what she wants and then use a Vietnamese courier service in the USA to ship your box(es) to Vietnam.

She won't be happy with that suggestion because her profit margin will be much smaller by importing legally.

Good luck 馃崁

I truly do hope that you end up having a long & happy relationship together, but I've personally been worried about you since you first evolved from an online teacher-student connection to a romantic relationship while still in the states...

There will likely be a number of replies saying I'm FOS and you should go ahead and do it...

Good luck 馃崁 - @OceanBeach92107

Won't be me saying you're FOS, OB.

Danny, my alarm bells started ringing very early, hence my writing this to you back in August.

I got the strong impression that this isn't her first rodeo.

Be careful and keep your eyes open my friend.

...and you could also bring back in a modest amount ...purchased by yourself directly from the retail outlet so that you are not running the risk of being a mule or being declared 'commercial' by immigration..聽 May not be the quantity she wants but if genuine she would still be appreciative. If you bring in larger quantities you would need to declare it appropriately.

I bought back a few months supply of cosmetics and vitamins last trip (personal use) and they were gratefully received. I suspect a larger amount is really a different story...and as our friends suggest above...better safe than sorry.

I got the strong impression that this isn't her first rodeo.

@Aidan in HCMC

And it probably won't be her last.

@OceanBeach92107

Thanks for your concern but the whole idea was mostly mine, she just knows people living in the uS WHO bring stuff to give away and sell.聽 If I do bring anything, it would probably a modest amount of vitemans or maybe a few bottle of cheap perfume from Marshalls and see how it goes.

I doubt she has ever done it before because she cant even name one specific brand or item to look for.

@OceanBeach92107
Thanks for your concern but the whole idea was mostly mine, - @Dannyroc3

But you wrote:

So my GF suggests I bring makeup and supplements back to VN when I come. Of course, the purpose would be to resell them to her friends. According to her, people in VN have a lot of confidence in products from the US.

Whatever.

I hope you give it a try...

WTTW For The Casual Reader of this thread:

If you've been told that nobody searches incoming baggage, it's simply not so:

~~~

On October 25, the Imported Luggage Procedures Team once again detected suspicious signs in the luggage of tourist D.A.K. (Indian nationality), who had entered from Hong Kong.

They found 15 nylon bags containing 362 diamonds hidden at the bottom of two mint boxes, covered with real mints. These two candy boxes were mixed in with other personal items for camouflage.

~~~

Be VERY cautious about bringing something into Vietnam for a friend (Vietnamese citizen or foreigner).

Unless you can open any packages or bottles to FULLY inspect the contents, you run the real risk of becoming a "mule".

It's certainly true that vietnamese women seem to think that anything brought into the country from Europe or the US is more genuine,聽 but if a problem does occur you are leaving yourself open for no personal gain as far as I can see.