TAGS: overseas shipment to Vietnam, customs, what to bring to Vietnam, Kitchen, GYM costs in HCMC, Vietnamese Silk Rugs, Carpet Street, kitchen appliances
7 Tips on What to Ship to Vietnam
2013
Once confirming your move to Vietnam, it can be a scramble to figure out what to prepare for the movers and what take to the curb. Add to that the shipping weight limit, either defined by your sponsoring company or your wallet, and a new level of confusion emerges. Exactly what does 4,500 pounds look like? How much of that walk-in closet do you take?
Americans are noteworthy pack-rats. Where else will you find a t.v. show dedicated to profiling hoarders? Nonetheless, you will find some creature comforts help you to settle into the frenetic life of Ho Chi Minh, so here are some considerations to make while evaluating what to bring in your shipment. My recommendations are based on an American idea of home life as well the limitations of finding some of those Western home wares here, either due to the high price or the difference in lifestyle.
Americans are noteworthy pack-rats. Where else will you find a t.v. show dedicated to profiling hoarders? Nonetheless, you will find some creature comforts help you to settle into the frenetic life of Ho Chi Minh, so here are some considerations to make while evaluating what to bring in your shipment. My recommendations are based on an American idea of home life as well the limitations of finding some of those Western home wares here, either due to the high price or the difference in lifestyle.
1. Bring Those Items with Intangible Value
If this is a first time you've lived abroad, you should consider that "home" is as much defined by those intangible sensations as by the people, environment, and customs of your culture of origin.
For example, I love the smell of cinnamon pine cones at Christmas time. It conjures memories of setting the Christmas stockings around the fireplace and the manic rush to wrap the presents before the kids woke at the break of dawn. Let's face it: Christmas in Vietnam won't entail pine cones, fireplaces, or hot toddies. It won't even feel like Christmas, other than the charity bazaars full of idle ladies' handicrafts, under blooming mimosa trees, no less.
When the inevitable homesickness hits or the strangeness of the place no longer seems like a tropical paradise, those intangible things that make your home feel like a personal sanctuary will help lift you through the doldrums.
Recommendations on what to pack:
Family pictures in frames
Favorite art or prints, sports related, hobby or otherwise
Maps or photographs of your city, state, or region
Small mementos that remind you of special people or times
Album covers of bands you like
Candles evocative of special places or holidays
Holiday or religious artifacts, especially if you are Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu
Special clothing of your culture or ethnic heritage
Note: This will be especially true if you have children. They will need those reminders of home. Frankly, any room missing these things feels lonely. Who wants to go home and feel alone?
For example, I love the smell of cinnamon pine cones at Christmas time. It conjures memories of setting the Christmas stockings around the fireplace and the manic rush to wrap the presents before the kids woke at the break of dawn. Let's face it: Christmas in Vietnam won't entail pine cones, fireplaces, or hot toddies. It won't even feel like Christmas, other than the charity bazaars full of idle ladies' handicrafts, under blooming mimosa trees, no less.
When the inevitable homesickness hits or the strangeness of the place no longer seems like a tropical paradise, those intangible things that make your home feel like a personal sanctuary will help lift you through the doldrums.
Recommendations on what to pack:
Family pictures in frames
Favorite art or prints, sports related, hobby or otherwise
Maps or photographs of your city, state, or region
Small mementos that remind you of special people or times
Album covers of bands you like
Candles evocative of special places or holidays
Holiday or religious artifacts, especially if you are Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu
Special clothing of your culture or ethnic heritage
Note: This will be especially true if you have children. They will need those reminders of home. Frankly, any room missing these things feels lonely. Who wants to go home and feel alone?
2. Five Reasons to Not Pack the Really Valuable Items
Only bring things that can be replaced or won't leave you heartbroken if something happens to them.
1.Shipping containers are not impervious to moisture, which can allow things to mildew. Nor are they necessarily free of rats, which is why the companies don't want you to ship food.
2.Shipping companies cannot guarantee your possessions won't crack, break, or become scratched. Or in our case, they cannot even guarantee they won't lose the feet to your couch, nor find replacements for them when you discover this.
3.In all likelihood, your shipment may be delayed at the customs yard, either leaving your country or upon arrival. It may be held up for four additional weeks because of a strike or because the shippers decided to add it to another shipment and let it visit seven other ports before reaching its final destination. Lengthy waits at the yards can bake or freeze your most precious items. Add to that your possessions can shift in transit, and there are numerous ways items could be damaged.
4. Your household will be delivered to your house in a series of tiny moving trucks, which look only suited to move vegetables to the market. The men paid to unpack your house will set items wherever is easiest for them, including stacking your bowls, spoons, and pots and pans on the floor, in order to reuse the empty boxes.
5. If you don't have your work permit in order by the time your shipment arrives, the government will hold onto it. Shipments in port have been opened. At least once I've heard that book collections were opened and screened, and shipments held when men packed "adult materials," which are illegal to bring in to the country.
1.Shipping containers are not impervious to moisture, which can allow things to mildew. Nor are they necessarily free of rats, which is why the companies don't want you to ship food.
2.Shipping companies cannot guarantee your possessions won't crack, break, or become scratched. Or in our case, they cannot even guarantee they won't lose the feet to your couch, nor find replacements for them when you discover this.
3.In all likelihood, your shipment may be delayed at the customs yard, either leaving your country or upon arrival. It may be held up for four additional weeks because of a strike or because the shippers decided to add it to another shipment and let it visit seven other ports before reaching its final destination. Lengthy waits at the yards can bake or freeze your most precious items. Add to that your possessions can shift in transit, and there are numerous ways items could be damaged.
4. Your household will be delivered to your house in a series of tiny moving trucks, which look only suited to move vegetables to the market. The men paid to unpack your house will set items wherever is easiest for them, including stacking your bowls, spoons, and pots and pans on the floor, in order to reuse the empty boxes.
5. If you don't have your work permit in order by the time your shipment arrives, the government will hold onto it. Shipments in port have been opened. At least once I've heard that book collections were opened and screened, and shipments held when men packed "adult materials," which are illegal to bring in to the country.
3. Make Your Castle Less Cavernous
Many expats live in villas that are three, four, or even five stories high. One can feel like a princess, floating from room to room. Or perhaps, more like a Miss Havisham in her empty manor? Who really needs eight bedrooms?
The floors may be tiled, and the counter tops will likely be granite. Engineered wood and concrete flooring is also used. Marble is also plentiful and locally sourced in Vietnam. These materials help to keep the house cooler, but will amplify everyday sounds like the inside of the ping pong table. The sound of dropping a fork will ricochet up a level, but somehow thieves manage to break in while people sleep, (but that is another story).
Throw rugs can dampen the odd noises, but good quality rugs aren't cheap. In central Vietnam, there are factories which produce silk rugs; however, given the quality of the "silk" in boutiques, you will have to be careful and knowledgeable on the qualities of the real thing. Some day I would love follow Jacobsen's tests for rugs.
Otherwise, you can find rugs shipped in from Malaysia and China, with the low-end being from the latter and faintly resembling a 1970's shag with hints glitter. Sitting crossed-legged on these carpets could make you feel like you are in a shisha lounge on Le Loi. The stock and color selection can be limited, depending on the frequency of the shipment, and how well you can pantomime your needs to the store vendor. At one point in negotiations, the shop keeper pulled out a brand new laptop to Skype with her niece in order to translate my friend's expectations on delivery.
So, by all means, pack the rugs, but not woolen ones (because of the mildew). You may also consider packing a good quality vacuum (running on 220) if you bring rugs.
The floors may be tiled, and the counter tops will likely be granite. Engineered wood and concrete flooring is also used. Marble is also plentiful and locally sourced in Vietnam. These materials help to keep the house cooler, but will amplify everyday sounds like the inside of the ping pong table. The sound of dropping a fork will ricochet up a level, but somehow thieves manage to break in while people sleep, (but that is another story).
Throw rugs can dampen the odd noises, but good quality rugs aren't cheap. In central Vietnam, there are factories which produce silk rugs; however, given the quality of the "silk" in boutiques, you will have to be careful and knowledgeable on the qualities of the real thing. Some day I would love follow Jacobsen's tests for rugs.
Otherwise, you can find rugs shipped in from Malaysia and China, with the low-end being from the latter and faintly resembling a 1970's shag with hints glitter. Sitting crossed-legged on these carpets could make you feel like you are in a shisha lounge on Le Loi. The stock and color selection can be limited, depending on the frequency of the shipment, and how well you can pantomime your needs to the store vendor. At one point in negotiations, the shop keeper pulled out a brand new laptop to Skype with her niece in order to translate my friend's expectations on delivery.
So, by all means, pack the rugs, but not woolen ones (because of the mildew). You may also consider packing a good quality vacuum (running on 220) if you bring rugs.
4. Keep Fit in the 90% Humidity and Tropical Heat
Turn one of those empty rooms into a personal gym. Free weights are easy to find, and there are several shops selling elliptical machines and treadmills. However, people have set up personal cross fit studios or imported specialty stationary racing bikes. (Road racing has a strong community in HCMC, but the geography is flat.) If you are a sport fanatic, don't assume you'll have all you need to feed your fix. Harder to find items include exercise bands, swimming fins, compression wraps in the right size, and other sports equipment you may now take for granted. (Although yoga mats and tennis rackets abound.)
There are many kinds gyms in the city, charging anywhere from about $6 a month for a local facility (weight room and no air con) to $70-100 a month for an individual membership in a facility with pool, classrooms, spinning room, and exercise / weight machines. The higher end gyms will offer classes of varying quality as well personal trainers. There are plenty of people wanting to earn USD while helping you to trim off the pork belly (thit heo quay) from your waistline.
While not exactly a sport in this country, but certainly a fix for an adrenaline junky, riding a scooter or motorbike could be considered one of those times you should bring special equipment. If you are going to ride, please invest in a good helmet. It is illegal to ride without a helmet in HCMC, but finding a high quality one can be difficult. Plus, helmets may not be tested by industry standards.
There are many kinds gyms in the city, charging anywhere from about $6 a month for a local facility (weight room and no air con) to $70-100 a month for an individual membership in a facility with pool, classrooms, spinning room, and exercise / weight machines. The higher end gyms will offer classes of varying quality as well personal trainers. There are plenty of people wanting to earn USD while helping you to trim off the pork belly (thit heo quay) from your waistline.
While not exactly a sport in this country, but certainly a fix for an adrenaline junky, riding a scooter or motorbike could be considered one of those times you should bring special equipment. If you are going to ride, please invest in a good helmet. It is illegal to ride without a helmet in HCMC, but finding a high quality one can be difficult. Plus, helmets may not be tested by industry standards.
The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.
Julia Child
5. Foodies Prepare Your Kitchens
Vietnam is a foodie culture, street side pop up restaurants will be packed with customers waiting on grilled squid or bun bo hue, with many little restaurants being a one dish specialty stop. Nuoc mam (fish sauce) will grow on you eventually, and when you've adjusted your palate, you will find the places which keep the pot stocked and cooking for 24 hours to make the melt-in-the mouth goodness, that can only come from slow cooking.
The country also grows or imports a good diversity of vegetables and fruits. Spices? In the Ben Thanh stall one can buy coriander, herbes de Provence, cumin, bay leaves by the 50 or 100 grams, for a dollar or so. Fresh herbs like rosemary, dill, thyme, pepper, and basil will be available all year round, costing less than 25 cents. Shallots? 50 for about 40 cents in the market. But who cooks? Many people hire both housekeepers and cooks....
Yet if you are a true foodie, you know you cannot go a couple of days without entering the kitchen. So here is a list of basic items you want to bring if you move to a Western style house, with more than a hot plate or gas burners.
Any appliances or gadgets, such as Cuisinarts, bread machines, Kitchen Aide mixers, or even something as basic as a good quality garlic press or zester. (Forget the rice cookers, yogurt makers, or microwaves.)
If you bring small appliances from the US, then you will need a transformer. Transformers are available here; however, in my experience they burn out the fuses more quickly. You'll need a transformer that is more than 1.5 times wattage in comparison to your appliance.
Baking pans, oven thermometer, and smaller cookie sheets. The ovens are small and cook unevenly.
Not everyone will have a dishwasher, but if you are fortunate, then bring the tablets. A box costs about $25 and are not always available.
Gas BBQ that can be retrofitted for the local propane tanks.
Cookbooks, because food is an emotional issue. You'll feel better being able to make meals that remind you of home. This becomes especially true if you fall sick.
Chocolate chips and olive oil. I kid you not. They are expensive here, and I wonder if they have gone stale in the heat. Some movers say no oil since the scanners at the ports can see you are transporting a liquid and slow down the shipment.
The country also grows or imports a good diversity of vegetables and fruits. Spices? In the Ben Thanh stall one can buy coriander, herbes de Provence, cumin, bay leaves by the 50 or 100 grams, for a dollar or so. Fresh herbs like rosemary, dill, thyme, pepper, and basil will be available all year round, costing less than 25 cents. Shallots? 50 for about 40 cents in the market. But who cooks? Many people hire both housekeepers and cooks....
Yet if you are a true foodie, you know you cannot go a couple of days without entering the kitchen. So here is a list of basic items you want to bring if you move to a Western style house, with more than a hot plate or gas burners.
Any appliances or gadgets, such as Cuisinarts, bread machines, Kitchen Aide mixers, or even something as basic as a good quality garlic press or zester. (Forget the rice cookers, yogurt makers, or microwaves.)
If you bring small appliances from the US, then you will need a transformer. Transformers are available here; however, in my experience they burn out the fuses more quickly. You'll need a transformer that is more than 1.5 times wattage in comparison to your appliance.
Baking pans, oven thermometer, and smaller cookie sheets. The ovens are small and cook unevenly.
Not everyone will have a dishwasher, but if you are fortunate, then bring the tablets. A box costs about $25 and are not always available.
Gas BBQ that can be retrofitted for the local propane tanks.
Cookbooks, because food is an emotional issue. You'll feel better being able to make meals that remind you of home. This becomes especially true if you fall sick.
Chocolate chips and olive oil. I kid you not. They are expensive here, and I wonder if they have gone stale in the heat. Some movers say no oil since the scanners at the ports can see you are transporting a liquid and slow down the shipment.
6. Rolling Blackouts?
According to Vietnam.net, the government plans to "have 52 coal thermal power plants, two nuclear power plants, and some hydroelectric power projects" completed by 2030 (Severe Power Shortage to Hit Next Dry Season, Sept. 18, 2013).
In the meantime, you will regularly lose power, either due to an accident which cuts down the power lines (See Crane Truck Accident Causes Massive Power Outage in Southern Vietnam May 22, 2013) or due to the huge demand of foreigners' air con units draining the grid powered by dams. Most expat rentals will supply a generator, which may work well or not.
As for technology, bring laptops, not PCs. The sudden loss of electricity will fry a PC's hard drive over time as it will not be able to properly shut down. One can see tablets and iPads on about every street corner as well. If you do decide to buy a computer here, take your passport as it will be required to complete the purchase. Even changing your sim card on a GSM phone contract requires a passport.
Video game systems may be packed if you already have one. Halo Shop retailers have licensed video games, and jail breaking your system will allow you to play the counterfeit ones.
E-readers such as Kindle or iPad will help you feel connected to the English speaking world. There are lending and exchange libraries organized by restaurants, apartments, and social organizations, however.
In the meantime, you will regularly lose power, either due to an accident which cuts down the power lines (See Crane Truck Accident Causes Massive Power Outage in Southern Vietnam May 22, 2013) or due to the huge demand of foreigners' air con units draining the grid powered by dams. Most expat rentals will supply a generator, which may work well or not.
As for technology, bring laptops, not PCs. The sudden loss of electricity will fry a PC's hard drive over time as it will not be able to properly shut down. One can see tablets and iPads on about every street corner as well. If you do decide to buy a computer here, take your passport as it will be required to complete the purchase. Even changing your sim card on a GSM phone contract requires a passport.
Video game systems may be packed if you already have one. Halo Shop retailers have licensed video games, and jail breaking your system will allow you to play the counterfeit ones.
E-readers such as Kindle or iPad will help you feel connected to the English speaking world. There are lending and exchange libraries organized by restaurants, apartments, and social organizations, however.
7. MISCELLANY: Because These Other Items Are Just Harder to Find
Below is a list of random things that are harder to find at a higher quality for their cost, so if you can afford to bring them, then consider fitting them into your shipment.
Furniture and Housewares:
Bathroom rugs, towels, wash cloths, etc, especially if they are mildew resistant
Couch, if you are tall...Couches seem lower in Vietnam
Soft beds, frames, and sheets, which are needed if you bring your American size matress
Foam mattress toppers if you don't bring your beds
Furniture can be custom made, however
Home decor
Personal:
Medications, until you figure out the equivalent here
Special shampoos or lotions, a lot of skin bleaching stuff for sale
Sunscreen, can cost about $15 for a small container
Peptobismol tablets
Tampons
Salon products
Shoes if you have big Western feet
Furniture and Housewares:
Bathroom rugs, towels, wash cloths, etc, especially if they are mildew resistant
Couch, if you are tall...Couches seem lower in Vietnam
Soft beds, frames, and sheets, which are needed if you bring your American size matress
Foam mattress toppers if you don't bring your beds
Furniture can be custom made, however
Home decor
Personal:
Medications, until you figure out the equivalent here
Special shampoos or lotions, a lot of skin bleaching stuff for sale
Sunscreen, can cost about $15 for a small container
Peptobismol tablets
Tampons
Salon products
Shoes if you have big Western feet
Happy packing!