Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, with 100 million consumers, a rapidly expanding middle class, and an appetite for imported products that shows no sign of slowing. For importers looking to bring British food and drink into this market, the timing is strong – backed by two free trade agreements between the UK and Vietnam and a surge in British tourism that is putting UK brands in front of Vietnamese consumers every day.
Total UK exports to Vietnam reached £1.5 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025, and with 65% of tariff lines already eliminated under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, the commercial case for sourcing from the UK is increasingly compelling.
Why Vietnam Is a Growing Market for British Food and Drink
Rapid urbanisation and rising incomes are reshaping consumer habits across Vietnam. A young, increasingly affluent population is driving demand for imported food and drink, particularly in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Supermarkets, convenience stores, and premium retail outlets are expanding their imported ranges, and there is a clear and growing willingness to pay more for quality, authenticity, and recognisable international brands.
Vietnam’s food and drink import market spans a broad range of categories. British products – from premium spirits and craft beverages to packaged foods and confectionery – are well positioned to meet demand from consumers who associate the UK with quality and heritage.
British Tourism and Demand for UK Products in Vietnam
The UK is now one of the leading European source markets for tourism to Vietnam, with visitor numbers growing by over 20% in 2025. Favourable visa exemption policies and increased direct travel options helped drive a record 21 million international arrivals to Vietnam in 2025, with British tourists among the most consistent Western visitors.
Popular destinations including Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang all attract significant numbers of British visitors. This creates direct demand for familiar British food and drink products in hotels, resorts, restaurants, and bars across these tourist hotspots. For importers supplying the hospitality sector, stocking recognisable British brands is a practical way to cater to this growing customer base – and to introduce Vietnamese consumers to products they may then seek out in retail settings.
The Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board has previously targeted one million annual UK visitors annually, a figure that underlines the scale of the opportunity for hospitality-focused importers.
Importing British Food and Drink Under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement
Two free trade agreements now govern trade between the UK and Vietnam: the UK-Vietnam FTA, in force since 1 January 2021, and the CPTPP, which entered into force between the two countries on 15 December 2024. Both agreements reduce costs and simplify the process of importing British goods.
Reduced Tariffs and Rules of Origin
Under the UK-Vietnam FTA, 65% of tariff lines on UK exports have already been eliminated, rising to 99% over six years. The CPTPP offers more flexible rules of origin better suited to modern supply chains. Depending on the product, you may need to specify which agreement you are trading under when applying rules of origin, so getting the right documentation in place from the outset is essential.
Our documentation team manages the full paperwork for Vietnam shipments, working with our local chamber of commerce and relevant authorities. We charge only the rates set by the chamber and embassies, seeking no profit on documentation services.
Special Sales Tax on Alcohol Imports
Vietnam applies a Special Sales Tax to the import of alcohol, alongside standard customs duties and VAT of up to 10%. If you are importing British spirits, beer, or wine, factoring SST into your pricing is important for maintaining competitive margins. We can advise on the documentary requirements for alcohol shipments to help ensure smooth customs clearance.
Labelling and Regulatory Compliance
All imported food and drink must meet the standards set by Vietnam’s Directorate for Standards and Quality. Labelling and translation requirements apply, and Vietnamese is the primary language for all consumer-facing packaging. We work with importers to ensure products meet local labelling standards before they leave the UK, so your goods are compliant and shelf-ready on arrival.
Shipping British Food and Drink to Vietnam
Vietnam’s port infrastructure has developed significantly in recent years, with major container terminals in Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai), Hai Phong, and Da Nang handling the bulk of the country’s imports. Sea freight from the UK typically takes four to six weeks, and for importers running a regular programme this remains the most economical route.
Temperature-controlled containers are available for chilled and refrigerated goods, with generator sets fitted and monitoring maintained from our UK warehouse right through to arrival.
For importers who are not yet ready to commit to full container loads – or who want to trial a curated British range before scaling up – our consolidation service starts from a single pallet. This is particularly useful if you are supplying boutique retailers or hospitality venues in tourist-heavy areas like Phu Quoc or Hoi An where demand may be strong but volumes are still developing. We offer groupage and consolidation at cost to all customers.
When speed matters – whether for a product launch, a seasonal order, or goods with a shorter shelf life – air freight reaches Vietnam within 48 to 72 hours, with shipments from 100 kg upward. We carry air freight at cost with no profit taken on the freight charges themselves.
How Leverbrook Export Supports Importers in Vietnam
Vietnam’s combination of rapid economic growth, expanding consumer demand, a booming tourism sector, and preferential trade terms with the UK makes it one of Southeast Asia’s most promising markets for British food and drink.
For Vietnamese importers, we act as your UK-based logistics and compliance partner – managing documentation, labelling, customs paperwork, and shipping so that products arrive on time, compliant, and ready to sell. Every aspect of our service is designed to remove friction from the import process, from your first trial pallet through to a full ongoing supply programme.
To talk through what you need, contact us at info@leverbrook-export.co.uk or call +44 (0) 151 645 3517 during UK office hours, Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5pm GMT.