Snakes in Bottles

Should be OK as long as you don't exceed your duty free alcohol allowance... ;)

Thanks Craig, I just wasnt sure about the whole 'animal' thing but I did hear somewhere that because it is soaked in alcohol it carries no risk therefore is ok...

Do you, or anyone else. know how strict 'customs' is coming over the Huay Xui border into Chiang Mai?

Never carried a snake through Customs but once bought a bottle of spirit with a large centipede in it back from Thailand to the UK.

Thai Customs are usually more interested in contraband than tourists with souvenirs...

Thanks Craig xx

Hi there,

We were given this list when we were planning our first trip to Vietnam;

WORST BUYS

When you’re shopping, it’s important to know what you can and can’t bring back to Australia.
Common items from Vietnam not allowed into Australia include:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Uncanned meat products (e.g. pork, dried meat)
• Eggs and egg products
• Banana leaf items including traditional hats,
food, photo albums and notebooks
• Live plants and live plant material
• Snake wine
• Lucky bamboo
• Green coffee beans
• Water hyacinth leaves on photo album covers

Some of these items are allowed in if accompanied by an import permit and/or treated by Quarantine (which will cost you money). Talk to AQIS prior to departure about obtaining an import permit.

For more information about what you can’t bring back to Australia visit www.travelbug.gov.au<BR><BR>That was a year ago, things may have changed, but they were very definite about the rules then.

good luck :)

What is 'lucky bamboo'?

Australia is very strict about quarantine .... the snake wine will definately be confiscated .... Roses'list is right on the mark

some things we have decalred and brought in ....
pepper.. still on the branch... bought in Bacha market
candied cumquats from Hanoi
vanilla bean from Bali
tea & coffee....10kgs... from Laos and Vietnam ....

some things that have been confiscated....
canned condensed milk ... buught in Hanoi made in Holland
cinamon bark
embroidered animal from Bacha... stuffes with cotton scraps

some things frowned on , discussed , showed to the superviser ... but allowed through woth earnest talking ... from them and us ...

dried balefruit and rosella from LPB(seeds)
cadamon from India
a water puppet from Hanoi .. twas from the show and they were concerned about the holes... were thay from borers???
a cooking implement from Indine ... shoulda cleaned the tofu off better

we have always been open and cooperative and willing to give up that which is dangerous ..... after all we live in a wodden farm house in rural Aus .......

That would kill me, Celestine- the confiscation of coffee or candied kumquats (I prefer the ginger!)....

What's 'lucky bamboo'?

Lucky-bamboo.

Considered to be very lucky, some of the products are quite popular and if fresh or not treated properly they can violate quarantine laws.

As Celestine mentions our Customs people are very thorough (rightly so too, we have lots to protect!). On my last trip I had been given a tub of dried apricot / coconut type sweets as a gift, customs were not happy at all and then absolutely combed every part of my bags, took forever! They conviscated them as they were considered a foodstuff not confectionary.

We are always open with them too and most products have been fine.