VietnamTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
AsiaLast checked 24 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record
Vietnam treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 2 come in on paperwork with a supply cap, 2 have no published rule we could find and 3 need only your prescription.
Serious penalties: Carrying more than 7 days' supply of a narcotic or 10 days' supply of a psychotropic medicine into or out of Vietnam without a Sở Y tế licence obtained in advance (the process takes up to 7 working days and cannot, on the Decree's own wording, be started at the border). Separately, carrying dexamfetamine, mixed-amphetamine-salts (Adderall) or tapentadol is an unresolved risk because none of the three appear anywhere in Vietnam's own controlled-drug schedule. A low-dose codeine combination product is a fourth unresolved case: the export article gives it 30 licence-free days (Art 60(2)(c)) but the import article has no matching tier.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Vietnam records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Restrictedmax 10 days' supply
Confirmed on the psychotropic schedule; class default applies explicit
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Restrictedmax 10 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Dexamphetamine (dexamfetamine)Unclearmax 10 days' supply
Absent from Vietnam's controlled-drug schedule entirely; no status can be given explicit (of the absence)
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not narcotic/psychotropic/precursor drugs, so the strict 7/10-day limits do not apply; they can be brought as ordinary personal medicine with a prescription in labelled packaging (non-controlled personal medicine has separate value/frequency limits when mailed, but hand-carried personal-use medicine with a prescription is permitted).
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Unclearmax 10 days' supply
The same rule as Dexamphetamine above.
- Intuniv (guanfacine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
- Qelbree (viloxazine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
Rules by drug class
Narcotic (opioids)
Restricted- Quantity
- 7 days. 7 days' supply per the dose stated on the accompanying prescription; above that a Sở Y tế import licence is required before travel. Buprenorphine is scheduled as psychotropic in Vietnam, not narcotic, so its cap is 10 days (see substanceOverrides). The 7-day figure is the cap for a 'thuốc gây nghiện'; which inbound tier catches a low-dose combination product (thuốc dạng phối hợp, per Circular 20 Phụ lục IV) is unresolved — see gaps.
- Permit
- Not required up to 7 days' supply. Above that, it is. Apply at least 7 days ahead.
- Documents
- prescription, import permit
- In force
- Since January 2024.
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Restricted- Quantity
- 10 days. Methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine: 10 days' supply per prescription, licence above that (same mechanism as narcotics). Dexamfetamine and mixed-amphetamine-salts: not named on Vietnam's controlled-drug schedule at all; no figure can be given.
- Permit
- Not required up to 10 days' supply. Above that, it is. Apply at least 7 days ahead.
- Documents
- PrescriptionFor methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine only.
- For the licence application Vietnam wants a certified copy of your prescription, or a copy you have signed with the original produced alongside it. It must name you and your age, the medicine and its strength, the quantity or number of days, the dose, and your doctor's name, signature and clinic address.
- Must be notarised by a notary public.
- Must state: the generic (INN) name of each medicine, not just the brand, the strength of each medicine, the total quantity you are carrying, how long the treatment lasts.
- Import permit (optional)For methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine only.
- Only needed above 10 days' supply of a psychotropic medicine, or 7 days of a narcotic one. Issued by the provincial health department within seven working days, with no fee. Because it is issued provincially, applying before you leave means posting the application to Vietnam.
- Must be issued or approved by the destination's health authority before you travel.
- Prescription
- In force
- Since November 2024.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not narcotic/psychotropic/precursor drugs, so the strict 7/10-day limits do not apply; they can be brought as ordinary personal medicine with a prescription in labelled packaging (non-controlled personal medicine has separate value/frequency limits when mailed, but hand-carried personal-use medicine with a prescription is permitted).
Leaving Vietnam
Vietnam publishes a different rule for taking these medicines out than for bringing them in. Only the differences are below. Anything not listed here is the same as the rule above.
Narcotic (opioids)
The 7-day core is mirrored on departure under Decree 54/2017/ND-CP Article 60/63, but the mechanism is not identical: Art 60(2)(c) adds a 30-day licence-free tier for combination products that Art 75(2) has no counterpart to, and Art 60(1) requires the exported medicine to be authorised for circulation in Vietnam.
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
The same 10-day core applies to methylphenidate/lisdexamfetamine on departure (Decree 54/2017/ND-CP Article 60/63), with the same two asymmetries as the narcotic class: Art 60(2)(c)'s 30-day combination-product tier has no import counterpart, and Art 60(1) requires the medicine to be authorised for circulation in Vietnam. Not addressed for dexamfetamine/mixed-amphetamine-salts.
Connecting through Vietnam
- Staying airside, never clearing immigration:
- no official guidance found, so assume the full entry rules apply. Vietnam's rules are written entirely around people entering the country and say nothing about passengers who never clear immigration.
- Clearing immigration for a layover:
- no official guidance found, so assume the full entry rules apply. Clearing immigration should bring the entry rules into play, but nothing addresses layover travellers and the 10-day allowance is not obviously written with short stops in mind.
- Changing airports:
- no official guidance found, so assume the full entry rules apply. Not addressed.
- Overnight layover, leaving the airport:
- no official guidance found, so assume the full entry rules apply. Not addressed.
- Checked bag travelling without you:
- no official guidance found, so assume the full entry rules apply. Vietnam's licensing procedure does cover medicine arriving under a bill of lading as well as carried on the person, but does not say whether the licence-free allowance extends to it.
Responsible authority
Provincial Department of Health at your point of entry; nationally, the Drug Administration of Vietnam
Applications are lodged in person or by post with the provincial health department. Ho Chi Minh City: syt@tphcm.gov.vn, 1900.63.85.63.
Sources
The source behind everything above, so you can check it yourself rather than take our word for it. Always confirm the current rule with the source before you travel.
Your trip pack
A doctor's letter for Vietnam, filled in with your medications and your stops, ready to sign.
The rules above are free and stay free. The pack is the paperwork that goes with them: a checklist for each stop in travel order, a printable PDF, and the letter to take to your GP.
Build your trip packCommon questions
This page organises publicly available government information and links. It is not legal or medical advice. Rules change and enforcement varies, so always confirm with the official sources above or the Vietnam embassy or consulate before travelling.