Reliability of postal service in Saigon

Within VietNam my employer uses 'registered' - the higher rate version - which is essentially a courier service. However, this service is not available to all provinces - particularly the lesser populated ones.

Regular mail to domestic addresses is very unreliable, seems that only established business addresses are guaranteed to get delivery - if there is sufficient for the Postie to make the trip.

Another strange thing is addressing. A friend of mine lives in Quan 7 - the former arboreal swampland - in a 240-unit condominium on Phu Thuan Street. Mail addressed there occasionally arrives. However, VNPT uses an adjacent street name - Gio Mio Street - for their mail address and it always arrives!

Having mail delivered to a town's Central Post Office (or Quan in bigger cities) through Post Restante incurs an additional cost - which the VN P.O. fee that is charged for delivering to a local address!

Always have people sending mail to you include your telephone numberafter your name in the return address.

For the small extra charge, the higher priced registered service is well worth it.

We also make numerous small shipments to all parts of the globe - all registered. Here the 'international' portion is under the auspices of the Postal Union which, I think, is a UN affiliated agency. Due to the quantity of international mail, of all types, VN mail goes via a regional centre that was, at one time, based in Bangkok, but may have been moved. This adds delay to movements.

International mail is reliable but slow, you can never believe promised delivery dates! But it usually arrives.

One tip. Send from a Post Office, not a Postal Agency, using ugly meter postage tape - not stamps with pretty pictures of flowers. The counter clerk must stamp/frank/chop your shipment in front of you so the impression shows - even if a pretty stamp is removed - that there was a stamp there at one time. It is not uncommon for high value stamps to be stolen if the 'cancellation' stamp ink is not very visible.

Australia, Canada, UK and USA are on high-volume routes.

We use JNE Courier from HCM Main Post Office (they have a counter there) as their prices are at least 50% cheaper than DHL.

Countries that JNE (a Singapore company) doesn't serve are transferred (transparently) to large carriers such as DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc. The rates do not increase as JNE gets courier discount rates which are quite generous.

Registered mail to Canada is 2-3 weeks, UK is 2 weeks. JNE is 2 days to Canada, 1 day to UK. (I checked out shipping records for July to get these numbers).

Of course, Christmas and Tet really slow things down. Christmas because of the parcels and Tet because every one stays home.

I presume you complete VN Customs Declarations for all your packages.

Jaitch, thanks.

I can say you are correct on the portions I know anything about, example that YES VN is part of the Postal Union which sets the rates and carriage rules and details. But do they follow them?

I havent filled out any Customs decs because recall that Im still in Malaysia, not moved to VN yet. Here, Malaysia is also part of the Postal Union but they make their own rates and rules and then blame it on the PU which I know is an utter lie. But yes, the packets have customs declarations and are sealed and nobody opens them. Only two have been unaccounted for over the last 600 shipments so its reliable. We pay US4.00 for 150g packs, registered with tracking numbers. I dont yet know how Saigon compares. The time to all my usual destinations is 3 weeks and thats acceptable (acceptable if thats also possible in Saigon). Does Registered give you a tracking number?

I said at the start that i got conflicting reports. One was that domestic mail is often thrown on the street on front of the intended recipients home or office, not in mail boxes, so anyone can pick up the mail. I also read that sometimes international packages dont arrive for several months, or not at all. I have no experience.  Im pre-planning.

FYI, for domestic mail here (and international) everyone also puts their phone numbers predominantly on mail, and most use couriers and registered for domestic.

When mailing international, does it matter which post office in Saigon is used? Sometimes here smaller post offices accumulate mail for days and dont move it until the truck is full---could be 10 days, 14 days......

My posts, wherein I mention Malaysia, are not designed to compare countries but to say that what I have is at least what I am trying to duplicate in Saigon--equal is OK, but not worse. You see what I mean.

I sent a package weighing .05kg containing 3 passport photos to Hong Kong 3 days ago by JNE Vietnam Post fron the main post office in D1. My client is still awaiting delivery. Cost was over 32 USD, Disgraceful service!

I recently received a package from Brussels by DHL weighing .125kg. The package took 34 hours to reach HCM and a further four days to get across the city to D8. So thats from Brussels to HCM 10,000km in 34 hours, then across HCM, - max 20km - in 96 hours.

Over the years I've sent dozen of packages from HCM to the U.S. and never had a problem. They always arrive via US Mail in around 10 days. I think the longest it has taken is 14 days and that was due to a hold up at U.S. customs.

cvco wrote:

Here, Malaysia is also part of the Postal Union but they make their own rates and rules and then blame it on the PU which I know is an utter lie.

The Postal Union rates only apply to the international portions of the route. Just means that the Malaysia Post Office is ripping people off.

Postal Union rates cannot be 'diddled' by countries as the PU are the settlement medium and they only use their rates.

cvco wrote:

But yes, the packets have customs declarations and are sealed and nobody opens them.

It is best to take to packages unsealed (at one end) to the P.O. here and you fill out and sign the Declaration. The counter clerk might seek assistance vis-a-vis your shipment. Then you seal the package and hand it over. VN Customs inspects (X-ray) outgoing mail. You must remember, the USA thinks 'terrorists' lurk in every package.

cvco wrote:

Does Registered give you a tracking number?

Yes.

cvco wrote:

One was that domestic mail is often thrown on the street on front of the intended recipients home or office, not in mail boxes, so anyone can pick up the mail.

My home is in the countryside and my office is semi-rural (new suburb) and mail is dropped in the house mailbox which is at roadside. The office mail is dropped off at reception.

In HCM my experience is that apartments mail is given to security OR the mailman actually gets off his motorcycle where there are easy access individual mail boxes. At my store front operations (think store flats) in HCM use either the mail box or, if the door is open, throw it through the door (and shout).

cvco wrote:

I also read that sometimes international packages don't arrive for several months, or not at all.

Once something hits VN they are in the 'system'. First call Customs, dubious items are diverted to Censor Office, rated for duty then distributed to Quan (district) Post Offices. As importations often require fee collection, they are tracked carefully.

cvco wrote:

FYI, for domestic mail here (and international) everyone also puts their phone numbers predominantly on mail, and most use couriers and registered for domestic.

You and I might know that but international readers might not.

cvco wrote:

When mailing international, does it matter which post office in Saigon is used? Sometimes here smaller post offices accumulate mail for days and don't move it until the truck is full - could be 10 days, 14 days.

Outgoing mail is best through the Central P.O. as JNE and DHL have offices in the P.O. and all the usual suspects (FedEx, UPS, etc) have offices around the P.O.

Mail distribution is pretty good. Ha Tien (south coast - 345 km) overnight via another city, Buon Ma Thuot (Central Highlands - 302 km - direct) overnight and Ha Noi is overnight. Mail to a destination near a large city is usually 2 days.

eodmatt wrote:

I sent a package weighing .05kg containing 3 passport photos to Hong Kong 3 days ago by JNE Vietnam Post from the main post office in D1. My client is still awaiting delivery. Cost was over 32 USD.

JNE quotes two days to HKG. It also varies by the time you deliver it to Central. JNE has a hub in Singapore. I sent a Passport App to HKG in March and it cost me USD$15 and it was there in two days.

JNE also has live body courier service. Everything hand carried. Usually no Customs inspection and you can collect it in the Arrivals Hall exit! Great for 'special' shipments. JNE inspects before starting journey.

Jaitch wrote:

cvco wrote:

Here, Malaysia is also part of the Postal Union but they make their own rates and rules and then blame it on the PU which I know is an utter lie.

The Postal Union rates only apply to the international portions of the route. Just means that the Malaysia Post Office is ripping people off.

Postal Union rates cannot be 'diddled' by countries as the PU are the settlement medium and they only use their rates.

cvco wrote:

But yes, the packets have customs declarations and are sealed and nobody opens them.

It is best to take to packages unsealed (at one end) to the P.O. here and you fill out and sign the Declaration. The counter clerk might seek assistance vis-a-vis your shipment. Then you seal the package and hand it over. VN Customs inspects (X-ray) outgoing mail. You must remember, the USA thinks 'terrorists' lurk in every package.

cvco wrote:

Does Registered give you a tracking number?

Yes.

cvco wrote:

One was that domestic mail is often thrown on the street on front of the intended recipients home or office, not in mail boxes, so anyone can pick up the mail.

My home is in the countryside and my office is semi-rural (new suburb) and mail is dropped in the house mailbox which is at roadside. The office mail is dropped off at reception.

In HCM my experience is that apartments mail is given to security OR the mailman actually gets off his motorcycle where there are easy access individual mail boxes. At my store front operations (think store flats) in HCM use either the mail box or, if the door is open, throw it through the door (and shout).

cvco wrote:

I also read that sometimes international packages don't arrive for several months, or not at all.

Once something hits VN they are in the 'system'. First call Customs, dubious items are diverted to Censor Office, rated for duty then distributed to Quan (district) Post Offices. As importations often require fee collection, they are tracked carefully.

cvco wrote:

FYI, for domestic mail here (and international) everyone also puts their phone numbers predominantly on mail, and most use couriers and registered for domestic.

You and I might know that but international readers might not.

cvco wrote:

When mailing international, does it matter which post office in Saigon is used? Sometimes here smaller post offices accumulate mail for days and don't move it until the truck is full - could be 10 days, 14 days.

Outgoing mail is best through the Central P.O. as JNE and DHL have offices in the P.O. and all the usual suspects (FedEx, UPS, etc) have offices around the P.O.

Mail distribution is pretty good. Ha Tien (south coast - 345 km) overnight via another city, Buon Ma Thuot (Central Highlands - 302 km - direct) overnight and Ha Noi is overnight. Mail to a destination near a large city is usually 2 days.

eodmatt wrote:

I sent a package weighing .05kg containing 3 passport photos to Hong Kong 3 days ago by JNE Vietnam Post from the main post office in D1. My client is still awaiting delivery. Cost was over 32 USD.

JNE quotes two days to HKG. It also varies by the time you deliver it to Central. JNE has a hub in Singapore. I sent a Passport App to HKG in March and it cost me USD$15 and it was there in two days.

JNE also has live body courier service. Everything hand carried. Usually no Customs inspection and you can collect it in the Arrivals Hall exit! Great for 'special' shipments. JNE inspects before starting journey.

JNE might quote 2 days delivery but in my case that simply didn't happen. The package, an envelope with three passport photos in it was posted from the main post office in D1, on Monday morning. It was delivered in Hong Kong 2 hours ago, thats four days. At a cost of 32 USD. The flight to Hong Kong is about 2 and half hours duration.

Im digesting the above......and all replies are very appreciated. I NEED to know this stuff. Thanks for extended replies, Jaitch, very helpful.

1) ok so the verdict is still out on the quality of JNE?

2) Side note: Postal Union adopts a rule/fee/whatever and if Malaysia doesnt like it they make their own fee/rule and then say Postal Union told them to do it, including a 300% increase in fees last year. Lies! I started a campaign against the Post Office which was joined by 32 companies and when it hit the newspapers, they abruptly backed off. It took one year. Why all this? The Post was privatized and following that, the Post believed Postal Union rules (or any other rules) no longer apply to them. I had been pushing for the Parliament to review the privatization agreement and thats when they backed off and dropped rates to an  increase of about 10% instead of 300%. I rather doubt one could mount such a fight in VN, if it was needed. Hope privatization of key social industries never comes to VN.

LIKEWISE, if JNE isnt operating up to the mark, are people writing and complaining? They will change or speed up in the face of widening complaints.

3) Mail from Central PO, ok.

4)  Re: incoming mail, are all packages opened and held for possible duty/tax charges or does one simply get their mail?

5) VN, I dont know, but YES, USA thinks there is a bomb hidden under every rock, even if one is mailing a PENCIL. This leads to long delays when the TSA-style queues are long.

6) $32 for a letter to nearby HK that sill doesnt arrive on time? See, thats why I had to stop using FedEx and UPS. Awful, especially considering the lower wages in SE Asia. Whats the rationale?

cvco wrote:

...if JNE isnt operating up to the mark, are people writing and complaining? They will change or speed up in the face of widening complaints.

Whats the rationale?

I checked our shipping log for August and September. Total of 214 JNE shipments with 2 delayed. We ship 'suspicious looking electronics' (some even do go bang - when rigged) so our stuff is a candidate for special handling.

And I know VN Customs use X-Rays - we were warned by them.

All JNE shipments go via Singapore. For the price they charge (us) they provide a good service. Who else does Vancouver, BC in three days for USD$20?

The rationale for charges is the same in Asia as elsewhere - what the market will bear.

Jaitch wrote:

cvco wrote:

...if JNE isnt operating up to the mark, are people writing and complaining? They will change or speed up in the face of widening complaints.

Whats the rationale?

I checked our shipping log for August and September. Total of 214 JNE shipments with 2 delayed. We ship 'suspicious looking electronics' (some even do go bang - when rigged) so our stuff is a candidate for special handling.

And I know VN Customs use X-Rays - we were warned by them.

All JNE shipments go via Singapore. For the price they charge (us) they provide a good service. Who else does Vancouver, BC in three days for USD$20?

The rationale for charges is the same in Asia as elsewhere - what the market will bear.

I'd be interested to know what it is that you ship that goes bang! Please PM me.

Notwithstanding your overall satisfaction with JNE, I think that on this occasion their service was appalling and the cost far too high. I have had far better service using Vietnam posts ordinary service - documents arriving in UK from here in 7 days at a cost far less than 32 USD.

Hmmm...I think $32 is outrageous when compared to what i do ship. Malaysia, to ANY country outside ASEAN is a flat price of $2.50, registered, up to 250 grams, and $5 for up to 500 grams. Thats standard service at the post office, delivery is around 15-20 days. So, for $32 for an ASEAN shipment yes i would expect lightning service--next day! Four days is appalling, thats basically standard mail. I get normal mail from China in about 2 days, EMS packages in 2-3 max, often sooner.