Cash on Delivery in Vietnam: How to Receive Parcels Safely

Cash on delivery in Vietnam means you pay the courier in cash when the parcel reaches your door, so the safest habit is to check the parcel before you hand over any money. Look at the box, confirm the name and address, and decide whether to accept. Once the cash is gone, getting it back is much harder.

Many shoppers here like this way of paying. They do not need a bank card, and they pay only after the goods arrive. That is a real benefit. It does not remove the risk of a wrong, damaged or missing item. The steps below help you keep control.

Before you order

Start with the seller. Look for a real business name, a street address and a working phone number on the website. Be careful with a seller that shows only a social media page and a mobile number.

Read the return and complaint terms before you click buy. A seller that runs an online sales website is expected to publish its terms for returns and for handling complaints. If you cannot find them, ask in writing. Treat a refusal or a vague answer as a warning.

Save the order page. Take a screenshot of the item, the price, the delivery fee and the promised delivery date. Keep the confirmation message or email. These records show what was agreed if a dispute starts later.

Sources: Decree 52/2013/ND-CP of the Government on e-commerce, issued 16 May 2013 (Vietnamese official legal text).

At the door: check before you pay

Ask the courier to wait while you look at the parcel. First check the outside. Is the box torn, wet or taped over in a strange way? Does the label show your name and address?

Next, ask whether you can open the parcel before paying. Couriers differ. Some allow it, some allow it only for a short check, and some do not. Ask politely and ask early. If the courier says no, you can still note the state of the box and decline a parcel that looks damaged.

Have small notes ready. Many couriers do not carry much change. Count the cash in front of the courier and ask for a receipt or a signed slip that shows the amount you paid.

Keep proof of everything

Proof wins most disputes. Use your phone. Film yourself opening the parcel, start to finish, with the label in view. Take photos of the item, the box and any damage.

Keep the box, the packing and the courier slip until you are sure the item is right. Write down the courier's name, the time and the tracking number. Save the seller's chat messages and call times too.

If something looks wrong, tell the seller the same day. A quick message with photos is easier to act on than a complaint sent weeks later.

What to do if the item is wrong

Stay calm and start with the seller. Send a short message that names the order, says what is wrong and attaches your photos or video. State what you want, for example a swap, a refund or a repair.

Point to the seller's own return terms. Those terms are the rules the seller published, and they are the best place to begin. If the seller agrees, ask for the steps and the deadline in writing. Do not post the item back until you know who pays for shipping.

If the seller does not reply, write again and keep a copy. Then contact the courier company with your tracking number, and ask about its complaint process. If the problem is still not solved, you can bring a written complaint to the trade or consumer protection authority of your province or city. Bring your screenshots, receipts and messages.

Sources: Decree 52/2013/ND-CP of the Government on e-commerce, issued 16 May 2013. Details of the complaint steps vary by company, so check each courier's own terms.

Lost or damaged in the post

Sometimes the parcel is lost or broken on the way. Postal operators are covered by the Law on Posts, passed in 2010, which deals with loss and with compensation. Rules and limits differ by service and by operator, so ask for the written terms of the service that carries your parcel.

Ask about insurance or a declared value when you send something valuable. If you are the buyer, ask the seller who is responsible for the parcel until it reaches you. Get the answer in writing before you pay for an expensive item.

Make any claim as soon as you find the problem. Give the tracking number, the date and your photos. Ask for a claim number and keep it.

Sources: Law on Posts, Law No. 49/2010/QH12, passed 17 June 2010 (Vietnamese official legal text).

A short checklist

Here is the quick version. Check the seller and read the return terms. Save the order details. Inspect the box at the door and ask about opening it. Count your cash and take a receipt. Film the unboxing. Report any problem the same day, in writing, with proof.

Cash on delivery is convenient, and a few careful habits make it safer. Most parcels arrive without trouble. The habits above are for the ones that do not.

Sources

Decree 52/2013/ND-CP on e-commerce (Government of Vietnam, 16 May 2013). Law on Posts, Law No. 49/2010/QH12 (National Assembly of Vietnam, 17 June 2010).