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IMPORT PROCEDURE GUIDE FOR HAIR DRYERS
Hair dryers are household electrical appliances where risk does not stop at HS code and duties. Importers must also control quality inspection, electrical safety conformity, EMC conformity and goods labelling. Generic descriptions, model mismatches, missing test reports or inconsistent C/O can lead to document requests, customs channel escalation, delayed clearance and DEM/DET. This guide provides an E2E map for pre-ETA review. For the product covered in this article, the importer should confirm the model, intended use, construction or composition, new/used condition, and technical documents before concluding the HS code, tax treatment, or specialist policy. The following sections organize the main controls from document receipt, catalogue and label review through dossier preparation, declaration, and coordination at the port of entry.
QUICK FACTS
| Item | What to review | Operational note |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Electric hair dryers used for drying/styling hair, operating with an electric heating element and air blower. | Do not automatically apply this article to hair curlers, straighteners, hand dryers, multi-function stylers or multi-item hair-care sets. |
| Reference HS code | 8516.31.00 – Hair dryers. | Review catalogue, voltage, wattage, heating principle, accessories and actual use. |
| MFN import duty | 25%. | Applies when goods originate from a country/territory eligible for MFN treatment with Viet Nam. |
| Ordinary import duty | 37.5% if MFN/special preferential treatment is not available. | Check the ordinary tariff decision in force on the customs declaration date. |
| VAT | 10% as the standard rate; possibly 8% during the VAT reduction period if the goods are not excluded. | At the time of this file, VAT reduction under Resolution 204/2025/QH15 and Decree 174/2025/ND-CP applies from 01/07/2025 to 31/12/2026. |
| Specialized policy | May be subject to state quality inspection, conformity certification, conformity declaration and CR mark under electrical safety and EMC QCVNs. | Do not lodge the declaration without reviewing test reports, conformity certificates, labels and model lists. |
| Sensitive documents | Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, C/O, catalogue, test report, conformity certificate, original label and model list. | Product name, model, voltage, wattage, origin and technical description must be consistent across commercial and compliance documents. |
SCOPE OF APPLICATION
This article applies to imported hair dryers, namely household electrical or hair-care appliances that generate hot/cool airflow for drying or supporting hair styling. Typical products include a heating element, motor/fan, heat/speed switches, power cord and nozzles/diffusers.
Applicable products
- Handheld hair dryers for home, salon and hotel use.
- Hair dryers with multiple heat settings, negative ion function, concentrator or diffuser attachments.
- Commercial imports, samples, warranty goods, project goods, EPE/FDI imports where the documents show the main function as hair drying.
Not automatically covered
- Hair curlers, straighteners, crimpers or other hair-styling tools.
- Hand dryers, fan heaters or industrial air blowers.
- Rechargeable, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/app-enabled devices or multi-function hair-care sets.
CLASSIFICATION & TECHNICAL IDENTIFICATION
From a customs perspective, a hair dryer should be identified by its principal function as an electro-thermic hair-care appliance. Generic descriptions such as “hair care appliance”, “electric dryer”, “salon device” or “beauty device” may cause HS misclassification, quality-inspection mismatches and requests for explanation.
Typical construction
Heat-resistant plastic body, motor/fan, heating element, thermal switch, power cord, concentrator nozzle or diffuser.
Data to lock
Voltage, wattage, frequency, model, heat setting, plug type, testing standards and lot/serial if any.
Common mistakes
Confusion with hand dryers, other hair-styling tools, industrial blowers, battery models or hair-care kits with multiple devices.
| Criterion | Document to compare | Risk if misdescribed | Suggested declaration wording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principal function | Catalogue, user manual, product photos | Misclassified as other hair tools or hand dryers. | “Electric hair dryer, model…, wattage…, voltage…” |
| Operating principle | Datasheet, technical diagram, motor/heater data | Unable to prove the electro-thermic hair-dryer nature. | State that the appliance has heating element and air blower. |
| Voltage/wattage | Original label, test report, catalogue | Affects QCVN scope, conformity certification and electrical safety warnings. | Use voltage and wattage exactly as shown on label/catalogue. |
| Model/serial | Model list, Invoice, Packing List, label | Model mismatch may invalidate certificates/test reports. | Use the exact commercial model; do not abbreviate arbitrarily. |
| Accessories | Packing List, catalogue, packing photos | Adapter/battery/wireless modules may trigger additional policies. | Describe included accessories; split lines where necessary. |
| Goods condition | Contract, invoice, actual photos | Used/refurbished goods may require separate policy review. | State “brand new 100%” or the actual condition. |
HS CODE – DUTY – C/O
For ordinary electric hair dryers, the reference HS code is 8516.31.00. The classification basis is heading 85.16 for electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus and subheading 8516.31 for hair dryers. Actual goods must still be reviewed because other hair-styling appliances may fall under a different subheading within 85.16.
| Reference HS code | Description | Application condition | Risk if incorrect | Documents to compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8516.31.00 | Hair dryers | Electro-thermic hair-care appliance with fan and heating element. | Duty recovery, penalty, C/O mismatch, conformity dossier mismatch. | Catalogue, datasheet, label, photos, test report, model list. |
| 8516.32.00 | Other hair-dressing apparatus | Consider only if the product is a curler/straightener/styler other than a hair dryer. | Generic “hair styler” wording may cause subheading errors. | Manual, functional photos, heating-head structure. |
| 8516.33.00 | Hand-drying apparatus | Not applicable to hair dryers; only for hand dryers. | The word “dryer” in documents can trigger classification questions. | Catalogue, use purpose, installation photos. |
| Tax type | Reference rate | Application condition | Control note |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFN import duty | 25% | Goods classified under 8516.31.00 and eligible for MFN treatment. | Check the tariff schedule on the declaration date. |
| Ordinary import duty | 37.5% | Applies when MFN/FTA treatment is not available. | Review Decision 15/2023/QD-TTg and the current tariff. |
| VAT | 10% or 8% if eligible for reduction | Hair dryers are generally VAT-able; the reduced rate applies only if not excluded and the policy remains effective. | Review Decree 174/2025/ND-CP before customs clearance/tax filing. |
| Special preferential duty under C/O | May be lower than MFN, e.g. 0%/5%/17.5% depending on FTA and origin | Valid C/O, correct form, origin criterion, direct consignment and consistent product description. | Do not assume preference if C/O form, HS, description or transport evidence is inconsistent. |
SPECIALIZED POLICIES
Hair dryers are household electrical appliances with electrical-safety and electromagnetic-compatibility risks. In addition to customs and tax, importers should review state quality inspection, conformity certification, conformity declaration and labelling before market circulation.
| Goods scenario | Possible policy | Documents to check | Authority/portal if identifiable | Recommended timing | Risk note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary household electric hair dryer | State quality inspection; conformity certification/declaration under applicable electrical-safety and EMC QCVNs. | Catalogue, test report, conformity certificate, label, model list. | Provincial Standards, Metrology and Quality agency/Department of Science and Technology; designated certification body; National Single Window where applicable. | Before ETA or upon receiving draft documents. | Late action may cause storage, demurrage/detention and clearance delay. |
| Hair dryer with ion function, heat sensor or multiple nozzles | Review by principal function; check whether accessories/models are covered by the certificate. | Datasheet, model list, accessory photos, test report. | Certification/testing body. | Before order confirmation. | Uncovered sub-models may require additional documents. |
| Rechargeable/adapter-included model | Battery, adapter, dangerous-goods transport and safety labelling requirements may arise. | Battery MSDS, UN38.3 if any, adapter specifications, packing instruction. | Carrier/airline, testing body, competent authority depending on dossier. | Before booking. | Lithium batteries can change transport conditions and safety documents. |
| Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/app-enabled model | Additional radio/ICT policy review may be required. | Module datasheet, frequency, transmit power, RF certificates if any. | Telecom/ICT authority if in scope. | Before purchasing. | Do not treat it as an ordinary hair dryer if RF function exists. |
| Used/refurbished goods | Separate used-goods, remaining-quality and import-purpose policy review may be needed. | Contract, condition statement, actual photos, manufacturing year. | Customs and specialized authority depending on case. | Before purchase. | Do not import without a clear legal approach. |
| Samples, warranty, project, EPE/FDI goods | Policy may vary by import purpose, but HS, labels, model and technical dossiers still need consistency. | PO, contract, use-purpose letter, catalogue. | Customs office and specialized authority if applicable. | Before ETA. | Samples are not automatically exempt unless a legal basis applies. |
LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO REVIEW
| Group | Document | Issuer | Effective timing | Role | Key points | Review note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law | Customs Law 54/2014/QH13 | National Assembly | From 01/01/2015 | Foundation for customs procedures and supervision. | Declaration, customs dossier, documentary/physical inspection. | Check amendments if any. |
| Law | Law on Export and Import Duties 107/2016/QH13 | National Assembly | From 01/09/2016 | Rules for import duty, MFN, special preferential and ordinary duty. | Taxable goods, tax base, exemptions/reductions/refunds where applicable. | Does not replace tariff lookup on declaration date. |
| Decree | Decree 08/2015/ND-CP and amendments | Government | Per each instrument | Details customs procedures, inspection and supervision. | Dossier, amendment, document/physical inspection. | Review together with current circulars. |
| Circular | Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC, Circular 39/2018/TT-BTC and amendments | Ministry of Finance | Per each instrument | Guides customs dossiers, valuation, channeling and declaration handling. | Customs dossier, amendment, value and HS review. | Check latest replacements/amendments. |
| Tariff | Decree 26/2023/ND-CP, Decree 144/2024/ND-CP, Decree 108/2025/ND-CP | Government | Decree 26 from 15/07/2023; amendments by their own dates | MFN import tariff basis for 8516.31.00. | Import tariff schedule for heading 85.16. | Check new amendments after this article date. |
| Ordinary duty | Decision 15/2023/QD-TTg | Prime Minister | From 15/07/2023 | Basis for ordinary duty where preferential treatment is unavailable. | Ordinary duty rules and tariff list. | Review on the declaration date. |
| VAT | VAT Law 48/2024/QH15; Resolution 204/2025/QH15; Decree 174/2025/ND-CP | National Assembly/Government | From 01/07/2025; Decree 174 until 31/12/2026 | Determines 10% VAT or 8% reduction if eligible. | Exclusion annexes for VAT reduction. | Do not apply 8% if excluded or policy expires. |
| QCVN/TCVN | Circular 21/2009/TT-BKHCN issuing QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN; Circular 21/2016/TT-BKHCN (Amendment 1:2016 to QCVN 4:2009/BKHCN); TCVN 5699-2-23 | Ministry of Science and Technology | Per QCVN roadmap/amendments | Electrical safety for electrical/electronic appliances; hair dryers are in the review scope. | Hair dryers and other hair-care appliances. | Check accepted TCVN/test report version. |
| QCVN/TCVN | Circular 11/2012/TT-BKHCN; Circular 07/2018/TT-BKHCN amending QCVN 9:2012/BKHCN | Ministry of Science and Technology | Hair dryers must satisfy EMC requirements from 01/09/2019 | EMC requirements for household electrical/electronic equipment. | Roadmap for hair dryers and electromagnetic emission limits. | Review if the product uses three-phase power or is outside QCVN scope. |
| Labelling | Decree 43/2017/ND-CP, Decree 111/2021/ND-CP | Government | Per each instrument | Goods labels and Vietnamese supplementary labels for market circulation. | Product name, origin, responsible entity, mandatory specifications and warnings. | Labels must match model, voltage, wattage and conformity dossier. |
VIEW / DOWNLOAD LEGAL TEXTS
Businesses should cross-check the documents on official legal portals or the issuing authority’s website before application. The buttons below open primary references; further amendments should be checked.
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE DOSSIER
Commercial documents
- Commercial Invoice.
- Packing List.
- Bill of Lading/Air Waybill.
- Sales Contract/Purchase Order if any.
- C/O if claiming preferential duty.
- Catalogue, datasheet, model list, product photos and original label.
Specialized documents if applicable
- State quality inspection registration.
- Electrical safety and EMC test reports.
- Conformity certificate and conformity declaration.
- CR mark and Vietnamese label dossier.
- Technical documents on voltage, wattage and applicable standards.
- Battery/adapter/wireless-module dossier if any.
| Document group | Required document | Used for | Prepared by | Common error | Pre-ETA check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Invoice, Packing List, Contract/PO | Declaration, value and quantity review | Buyer, seller, Docs | Generic “dryer”; missing model/wattage. | Align description with catalogue and HS 8516.31.00. |
| Transport | B/L or AWB, arrival notice, pre-alert | D/O, manifest, ETA tracking | Forwarder, carrier/airline, agent | Wrong consignee, packages or weight. | Lock pre-alert before ETA and compare with Packing List. |
| Origin | FTA C/O form | Special preferential duty | Seller, manufacturer, C/O issuing body | Wrong form, criterion, description or HS. | Check draft C/O before shipment. |
| Technical | Catalogue, datasheet, user manual, model list | HS classification, specialized review, customs explanation | Manufacturer, buyer, compliance | Catalogue does not show the imported model. | Compare model on documents with catalogue. |
| Conformity | Test report, conformity certificate/declaration | Quality inspection and market circulation | Importer, testing/certification body | Wrong standard or uncovered model. | Check certificate number, model scope and QCVN standard. |
| Labelling | Original label, Vietnamese supplementary label, CR mark if applicable | Clearance/circulation/post-clearance review | Importer, warehouse, compliance | Missing voltage, wattage, origin or responsible entity. | Photograph original label and compare with labelling decrees. |
KEY CLEARANCE DECISION POINTS
| Decision point | Question to answer | Evidence | Consequence if unclear | Recommended handling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS code | Is the product truly a hair dryer under 8516.31.00? | Catalogue, product photos, datasheet | HS query, channel escalation, duty recovery/penalty. | Standardize description and keep classification rationale. |
| Electrical safety/EMC QCVN | Is the model under QCVN 4:2009 and QCVN 9:2012? | Test report, certificate, model list | Insufficient circulation dossier; supplementary request. | Register quality inspection and prepare conformity dossier pre-ETA. |
| Model | Does the invoice model match catalogue, label and certificate? | Invoice, Packing List, label, certificate | Certificate/test report may not be accepted. | Require supplier to amend draft documents before issuance. |
| C/O | Is the C/O form, HS and origin criterion correct? | C/O draft, invoice, B/L, packing list | Loss of special preferential duty. | Check C/O draft before ETD/ETA. |
| Label | Does the label contain product name, origin, electrical specifications, warning and responsible entity? | Original label photos, Vietnamese label draft | Supplementary/corrective labelling required. | Prepare Vietnamese label before arrival. |
| Accessories | Any battery, adapter, wireless module or accessory affecting policy? | Packing List, accessory datasheet | Missing battery/RF/adapter dossier or incorrect kit declaration. | Separate accessories on documents where needed and review policies. |
PRACTICAL E2E PROCESS
Pre-ETA review
Confirm HS 8516.31.00, MFN/FTA/VAT, electrical safety and EMC QCVN scope, label, C/O and goods condition.
Lock documents and technical files
Finalize Invoice, Packing List, B/L/AWB, catalogue, datasheet, model list and test report. Model, voltage, wattage and origin must be consistent.
Register quality inspection/conformity if applicable
Prepare quality inspection registration, conformity certificate/declaration and CR/Vietnamese label plan. Late action after ETA may cause DEM/DET.
Lodge customs declaration
Green channel means system-based clearance under conditions; Yellow channel checks documents; Red channel checks documents and physical goods. Typical query points: value, HS, model, C/O, catalogue and specialized dossier.
Clear goods and complete circulation duties
After clearance, control Vietnamese label, CR mark, conformity dossier and market-circulation readiness.
Maintain post-clearance file
Keep declaration, transport documents, C/O, test report, certificates, labels, product photos and classification rationale for post-clearance or market inspection.
PRE-ETA RISK CHECKLIST
| Risk | Consequence | How to block before ETA | Documents to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic product name | Wrong HS and customs query. | State “electric hair dryer”, model, wattage, voltage. | Invoice, catalogue, datasheet. |
| Missing QCVN/conformity dossier | Quality inspection delay; circulation block. | Check test report/certificate before arrival. | Test report, certificate, model list. |
| Wrong C/O form or description | Loss of preferential duty and higher landed cost. | Compare C/O draft with invoice and HS. | C/O, invoice, B/L. |
| Model mismatch | Certificate does not cover imported goods. | Lock model list before shipment. | Model list, certificate, packing list. |
| Label lacks electrical data | Supplementary labelling or post-clearance risk. | Standardize Vietnamese label before ETA. | Original label, Vietnamese label, labelling decrees. |
| Battery/adapter/wireless module not declared | Missing transport/specialized dossier; held cargo. | Review accessories in Packing List and datasheet. | MSDS, UN38.3, RF/adapter datasheet if any. |
FAQ
Does importing hair dryers require an import licence?
The key focus is usually not an import licence but HS code, duties, quality inspection, conformity and labelling. Do not conclude absolutely where batteries, wireless connectivity or special functions exist.
Is quality inspection/conformity certification required?
It may be required if the model falls within electrical safety and EMC QCVN scopes. Review model, voltage, wattage, testing standards and actual dossier.
What is the HS code for hair dryers?
The reference code is 8516.31.00 for hair dryers. Do not use it for hair curlers, hand dryers or industrial drying equipment.
Is VAT 8% or 10%?
The standard rate is 10%. During the VAT-reduction policy period, 8% may apply if the goods are not excluded. Check on the declaration date.
Can C/O reduce duty?
Possibly. Valid FTA C/O may reduce duty. Form, origin criterion, product description, HS, invoice and transport evidence must be consistent.
Do samples follow the same procedure?
Samples still require correct HS, value, import purpose and specialized policy review if in scope. Do not assume exemption without legal basis.
What if invoice model differs from catalogue?
Amend documents before declaration. Otherwise explanation, amendment or evidence of equivalent model may be required.
Is Vietnamese supplementary label required?
Yes, goods circulating in Viet Nam must comply with labelling rules. Label content must match technical information, origin and responsible entity.
KEY TERMS
- HS Code: tariff classification code used for duty and policy determination.
- C/O (Certificate of Origin): origin document for FTA preferential duty review.
- State quality inspection: quality-control procedure for imported regulated goods.
- Conformity certification/declaration: evidence that the product complies with applicable QCVN.
- EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility): electromagnetic emission/compatibility requirement.
- ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival): cargo arrival milestone for pre-locking dossiers.
- DEM/DET: demurrage/detention cost arising from delayed cargo/container handling.
NEED TO REVIEW IMPORT PROCEDURES OR A SHIPPING PLAN?
Send us the product name, shipping route, current dossier, or implementation request in advance so we can suggest a suitable approach that is practical, focused, and aligned with your shipment.
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