Dexamfetamine in Vietnam: Import Rules & Controls

Quick reference

Drug class: CNS stimulant
Controlled substance: Yes. Not on Vietnam's medicinal psychotropic list (Circular 18/2026/TT-BYT) and not registered; amphetamines are controlled under Vietnam's drug control law
Prescription required: Yes
Available locally: No, dexamfetamine is not registered or commercially available in Vietnam
Storage: Room temperature, below 25°C, away from heat and direct sunlight
Max supply to carry: No published personal import allowance: dexamfetamine is not on the controlled-medicine lists that Decree 163/2025/ND-CP's limits refer to. Confirm with the Drug Administration of Vietnam before travelling
Key document: Prescriber's letter on clinic letterhead, original pharmacy-labelled packaging, translated Vietnamese copy
Emergency alternative: Contact your embassy or a major private hospital in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for guidance if your supply is lost or depleted.

Dexamfetamine in Vietnam: what you need to know before you travel

Dexamfetamine, sold globally as Dexedrine and Zenzedi in the United States and Canada, as Amfexa in Great Britain and Ireland, and as Attentin in Germany, is not registered for medical use in Vietnam. Vietnam classifies amphetamine-class stimulants as controlled substances^[1] under national drug control law, but dexamfetamine is not on the lists of controlled medicines, so no published personal import allowance covers it and you cannot obtain a local refill. Check with the Drug Administration of Vietnam before you travel.

This guide covers what documents to prepare, how to clear Vietnamese customs, storage in Vietnam's tropical climate, and what to do if your supply is lost or runs out.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Documentation for travelling to Vietnam with dexamfetamine

Decree 163/2025/ND-CP sets personal import allowances for medicines on Vietnam's controlled lists^[8] (for example 10 days' use for psychotropic medicines), but dexamfetamine is not on those lists, so the allowance does not clearly cover it. Contact the Drug Administration of Vietnam or the Vietnamese embassy before you travel to ask whether you can bring it at all. If you do carry it, a prescriber's letter on official clinic letterhead is essential to show the personal-use nature of your supply.

Pre-travel paperwork timeline

T-30 days
Book an appointment with your prescribing doctor to obtain a travel letter and to ensure your prescription is current and covers the full duration of your trip.Prescriber letter
T-14 days
Arrange a certified Vietnamese translation of your prescriber letter and prescription. Engage a certified translator or your country's Vietnamese consulate translation service. Ask the Drug Administration of Vietnam in advance whether you can bring dexamfetamine; a translated letter reduces the risk of detention at customs.Translated prescriber letter
Translation takes 3-7 business days with a certified provider. Request a stamp or notarisation if your prescriber can provide one.
T-7 days
Confirm your supply is packed in original pharmacy-labelled packaging. Check that the label matches the name on your passport and your prescriber letter exactly.Original packaging with pharmacy label
T-1 day
Print all documents. Do not rely solely on a phone screen at customs. Pack the letter, translated copy, and prescription printout together in a clear document wallet in your hand luggage.
T-0 (border)
Declare your dexamfetamine proactively on the customs declaration form. Present your prescriber letter, translated copy, and original packaging together if asked.

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What your doctor's letter must include

Your prescriber's letter must state: your full legal name (matching your passport), the medication's INN (dexamfetamine) and brand name, your dose and frequency, the total quantity carried, your diagnosis (one word or brief term is sufficient), and your doctor's name, signature, registration number, and clinic letterhead. Include a certified Vietnamese translation alongside the original.

A certified Vietnamese translation of your prescriber letter is strongly advisable. Notarisation is not a formal requirement for personal-use medication, but it adds credibility if your supply is queried at customs.

How much dexamfetamine to bring

Vietnam has published no personal-import quantity for dexamfetamine, because it is not on the controlled-medicine lists that the import limits refer to. If you are told you may bring it, carry only the quantity needed for your trip. Because dexamfetamine is not available locally, you have no refill option: your packed supply is your only supply.

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup portion in your checked bag. If one bag is delayed or lost, you retain medication. Keep both portions in original pharmacy-labelled packaging.

Packing and storing dexamfetamine for travel

Dexamfetamine tablets should be stored at room temperature below 25°C, away from moisture and direct light^[4]. Vietnam's average temperature exceeds 30°C for much of the year in both the south and the central coast; keep tablets in an insulated pouch or a cool, dark section of your hand luggage during transit. Avoid leaving medication in a parked vehicle or direct sunlight at any point during your trip.

Airport security with dexamfetamine

Keep your dexamfetamine in your hand luggage in original packaging with the pharmacy label visible. Security staff may ask you to remove it from your bag for inspection; present your prescriber letter and translated copy at that point. Dexamfetamine tablets are not subject to liquid or gel restrictions, so no additional airport-security exemption documentation is required for the tablets themselves.

Customs and medication import rules for Vietnam

All travellers entering Vietnam must complete a customs declaration form. Declare any prescription medication, including controlled stimulants, on that form. Dexamfetamine is not on Vietnam's lists of controlled medicines in Circular 18/2026/TT-BYT^[9] and is not registered in Vietnam, so no published rule confirms that a personal supply will be admitted, even with documents. If a customs officer questions your supply, present your letter, translated copy, and original packaging together and remain calm.

Controlled substance warning

Dexamfetamine (dextroamphetamine) is an amphetamine-class substance controlled under Vietnamese narcotics law. Possession can result in confiscation, detention, or prosecution, and medical documentation does not guarantee that a supply will be admitted. Do not transfer tablets to an unlabelled container at any point during your journey. Carry the full prescriber letter and original packaging at all times.

Dexamfetamine availability in Vietnam

Brands of dexamfetamine sold in Vietnam

Brand name	Indication	Formulation	Supply note
Not available	N/A	N/A	Dexamfetamine is not registered in Vietnam. No brand is commercially available in any pharmacy or hospital dispensary.

Dexamfetamine is not registered with the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV)^[6] and is not stocked in Vietnamese pharmacies or hospital dispensaries. The global brands Dexedrine, Zenzedi, Amfexa, and Attentin are all absent from the Vietnamese market. You cannot obtain a local prescription or refill under any circumstances.

Finding a doctor who can prescribe dexamfetamine in Vietnam

No Vietnamese doctor can legally prescribe dexamfetamine because the molecule is not registered in the country. Private international hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can, however, verify your medication and provide supporting documentation if your supply is queried by authorities. A consultation at a private international facility costs approximately 1,500,000-3,000,000 VND (~$60-$120 / ~€55-€110).

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Storing dexamfetamine while in Vietnam

Dexamfetamine tablets are stable at controlled room temperature up to 25°C per manufacturer guidance^[4]. Vietnam's year-round temperatures regularly exceed this in southern and central regions. Store tablets in an air-conditioned room and avoid leaving them in bags left in non-air-conditioned spaces, including tuk-tuks, motorbike storage boxes, or outdoor markets. Request in-room air conditioning at your accommodation if needed.

What to do if something goes wrong with your dexamfetamine in Vietnam

If your medication is lost or stolen, file a police report immediately and keep a copy. Contact your travel insurer's emergency line to initiate a claim. Your embassy can provide a list of local hospitals and may assist if you face legal complications.

If you run out of dexamfetamine, no local replacement is available. Contact your prescriber at home to explore whether a telemedicine consultation and emergency documentation can support an early refill on your return. A private international hospital in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City may be able to help you communicate your situation to authorities, but cannot dispense the medication. See our healthcare in Vietnam guide to know more about provider options.

“Tôi cần thuốc của tôi. / Tôi có đơn thuốc. / Xin hãy gọi bác sĩ. / Nhà thuốc gần nhất ở đâu?”

I need my medication. / I have a prescription. / Please call a doctor. / Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Vietnam's emergency number is 115 for ambulance services. For police, dial 113. International SOS and major private hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City^[7] have English-speaking staff and are equipped to assist travellers facing medical or medication-related emergencies.

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Frequently asked questions

Is dexamfetamine legal in Vietnam?

Dexamfetamine is not on Vietnam's lists of controlled medicines and is not registered or sold there. Vietnam publishes no personal import allowance for it, so check with the Drug Administration of Vietnam before you travel, so carry only what your trip requires, keep the original prescription and a doctor's letter with it, and declare the medication on arrival. Do not count on obtaining a refill locally.

Can I bring dexamfetamine into Vietnam legally?

There is no confirmed legal route. Dexamfetamine is not on Vietnam's lists of controlled medicines (Circular 18/2026/TT-BYT), so the personal import allowance in Decree 163/2025/ND-CP does not clearly cover it, and customs may refuse it even with documents. Contact the Drug Administration of Vietnam or the Vietnamese embassy before you travel. If you do carry it, bring a prescriber's letter on clinic letterhead, a certified Vietnamese translation, and keep the medication in original pharmacy-labelled packaging. Declare it on your customs form on arrival.

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with dexamfetamine?

Yes. Because dexamfetamine is a controlled amphetamine, a prescriber's letter is essential to demonstrate the personal-use nature of your supply to Vietnamese customs officers. The letter must include your name, the INN (dexamfetamine), dose, quantity, and your doctor's registration details. A certified Vietnamese translation alongside the original is strongly advisable.

What happens if I run out of dexamfetamine while in Vietnam?

There is no local supply pathway. Contact your home prescriber via telemedicine for guidance and reach your travel insurer's emergency assistance line. A private international hospital in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City can assist you medically but cannot dispense dexamfetamine.

Is dexamfetamine available in Vietnamese pharmacies?

No. Dexamfetamine is not registered with Vietnam's Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) and is not stocked in any pharmacy or hospital dispensary in the country. Global brands including Dexedrine, Amfexa, and Attentin are not available locally.

Is Dexedrine available in Vietnam?

Dexedrine, the US and Canadian brand of dexamfetamine (dextroamphetamine), is not registered in Vietnam and cannot be purchased locally. Amfexa (the British and Irish brand) and Attentin (the German brand) are equally unavailable.

Can Vietnamese customs confiscate my dexamfetamine at the border?

Customs officers have the authority to question or confiscate controlled substances that lack supporting documentation. Carrying a prescriber's letter, certified Vietnamese translation, and original packaging significantly reduces this risk. Declare the medication on your customs declaration form rather than waiting to be asked.

Dexamfetamine in Vietnam: Import Rules, Controls and Access