Product group · Textiles & Apparel
Textiles & Apparel HS Code Lookup & Import Procedure
Textiles is one of Vietnam's largest trade sectors, and imported fabric and yarn feed both domestic production and export processing. Classification is intricate: the HS code depends on fibre composition, fabric construction (woven vs knitted) and use — get one wrong and the code, duty and FTA preference all shift. In addition, textile products must have a formaldehyde conformity declaration before sale on the domestic market. Enter your fabric/garment in the tool below to find the code, duty, FTA preference and policy.
Chapters 50 – 63Look up the HS code for this product group
Vietnam HS code (HS Code) & import–export tariff lookup
10,800+ HS codes · Import duty / VAT / 16 FTA preferences · Specialized management policies — AI understands plain-language descriptions.
Type a product name (e.g. “smartphone”), an HS code (e.g. “8517”), or paste an Invoice / Catalogue image for AI extraction.
Overview
Textiles span Chapters 50 to 63, following the logic from material to finished product: silk (50), wool (51), cotton (52), other vegetable fibres (53), man-made filaments (54), man-made staple fibres (55), nonwovens and special yarns (56), carpets (57), special woven fabrics and embroidery (58), treated technical fabrics (59), knitted fabrics (60), knitted apparel (61), non-knitted apparel (62) and other made-up textiles (63). The core classification principle: identify the fibre with the greatest weight share, woven vs knitted construction, and the product use. This is also a group where FTA rules of origin ("yarn-forward" or "fabric-forward") are crucial to enjoy preferential duty.
Common HS codes
| HS code | Description |
|---|---|
| 5208 / 5209 | Woven cotton fabric (by weight, ≥85% cotton or blended) |
| 5407 | Woven fabric of synthetic filament yarn (polyester filament) |
| 5512 / 5515 | Woven fabric of synthetic staple fibres |
| 5903 | Fabric impregnated, coated or covered with plastic (technical fabric) |
| 6004 / 6006 | Knitted fabric, stretch jersey |
| 6104 / 6105 / 6109 | Knitted apparel: suits, shirts, T-shirts |
| 6110 | Knitted sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts |
| 6203 / 6204 | Non-knitted suits, trousers, skirts, dresses (men/women) |
| 6205 / 6206 | Non-knitted men's/women's shirts and blouses |
| 6302 | Bed linen, towels, household textiles |
| 6307 | Other made-up textile articles (fabric masks, cleaning cloths…) |
| 5402 / 5509 | Synthetic filament and staple yarn |
Duty rates & FTA preferences
Fabric and textile materials typically carry medium MFN duty (fabric around 5–12%), while finished apparel is higher (often around 20%). VAT is commonly 10%. Major sources include China, Korea, Taiwan, ASEAN and India. This is a group where the C/O is especially valuable: the gap between MFN and special preferential duty is large, particularly for apparel. However, textile FTAs have strict rules of origin — many require "yarn-forward" or "fabric-forward", meaning the weaving/sewing must occur within the FTA region. Use the tool above to look up the specific HS code and check the origin conditions.
Applicable FTAs
Import procedure
- 1
Classify by fibre composition and fabric construction
Based on fibre composition (% by weight), woven vs knitted construction, and use. This step drives both the duty and the FTA origin conditions.
- 2
Ordinary clearance
Ordinary fabric and textiles are not subject to specialised management on import and clear as ordinary goods (may be moved to a bonded warehouse).
- 3
Label the goods
Per Decree 43/2017/NĐ-CP and Decree 111/2021/NĐ-CP: Vietnamese sub-label showing product name, origin, importer, fibre composition, care/use instructions.
- 4
Formaldehyde conformity declaration before domestic sale
Sample and send to a designated body (Vietnam Textile Research Institute, QUATEST…) to test formaldehyde and azo aromatic amines under QCVN 01:2017/BCT; prepare the conformity-declaration dossier and apply the CR mark before distribution.
- 5
File the declaration, pay duties & clear
Submit the declaration with contract, invoice, packing list, B/L and C/O (if claiming FTA preference); pay import duty and VAT.
Specialised management & licences
Formaldehyde conformity declaration (QCVN 01:2017/BCT)
Textile products (fabric, clothing, bedding, textile accessories…) listed in Annex I of QCVN 01:2017/BCT must have a conformity declaration on formaldehyde limits and azo-dye aromatic amines, and carry the CR mark before being placed on the Vietnamese market. The regulation was issued with Circular 21/2017/TT-BCT (amended by Circulars 07/2018/TT-BCT and 20/2018/TT-BCT), effective 01/01/2019. This is a domestic-distribution obligation, not a clearance condition — goods may clear first and be sampled afterwards. Goods used solely for processing, export production, or sold to export-processing enterprises for internal use are exempt.
Used textiles
Used clothing, fabric and textiles are on the list banned from commercial import.
Special-purpose fabric
Fabric/products for special purposes (protective wear, flame-retardant fabric, medical textiles) may require quality inspection or compliance with the relevant sector regulation before the final product reaches the market.
Common classification mistakes
Fibre composition drives the HS code (and duty) — wrong ratio, wrong code
The hardest feature of textiles: the HS code depends on the fibre with the greatest weight share, with a key 85% threshold. Real-world example: a batch of T-shirts labelled "cotton" but actually 60% cotton, 40% polyester. With no fibre above 85%, the shirt is classified by the predominant fibre (cotton) but in a "blended" subheading different from the "100% cotton" subheading — driving different duty and FTA origin conditions. Declaring by the "cotton" label without checking the real composition leads to the wrong code, wrong duty, and — more importantly — the wrong basis for origin when claiming FTA preference. Lesson: always rely on the actual fibre composition (technical docs/test results), not the trade name.
Woven (Chapter 62) or knitted (Chapter 61)?
The same kind of shirt is in Chapter 61 if knitted, Chapter 62 if woven — two different chapters, with different duty and rules of origin. Determine the construction correctly; do not guess by appearance.
Forgetting the formaldehyde conformity declaration
Many businesses sell right after clearance, skipping the QCVN 01:2017/BCT conformity declaration. Placing textiles on the domestic market without a conformity declaration and CR mark is a violation, with penalty and recall risk.
Used textiles = banned goods
Second-hand clothing and used fabric scraps are on the list banned from commercial import. Do not plan to import before confirming the goods’ condition.
Frequently asked questions
Does importing fabric need specialised inspection at clearance?
Ordinary fabric and textiles are not subject to specialised management on import and clear as ordinary goods. However, before domestic sale they must have a formaldehyde conformity declaration under QCVN 01:2017/BCT.
What does a fabric’s HS code depend on?
Mainly on fibre composition (fibre type and % by weight, with an 85% threshold), fabric construction (woven or knitted) and use. Rely on the actual composition, not the trade name.
What is the import duty on clothing?
Finished apparel usually carries high MFN duty (around 20%), VAT 10%. Goods with a valid C/O from an FTA partner may receive much lower special preferential duty, but must meet the rules of origin (usually "yarn-forward/fabric-forward").
How is the formaldehyde conformity declaration done?
Sample the product and send to a designated body (Vietnam Textile Research Institute, QUATEST…) to test formaldehyde and azo aromatic amines under QCVN 01:2017/BCT, then prepare the conformity-declaration dossier and apply the CR mark before distribution. Goods solely for export production or internal use in an export-processing zone are exempt.
Can second-hand clothing be imported?
No. Used clothing and textiles are on the list banned from commercial import.
Advisory
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