To ship a marble statue home from Vietnam, most buyers let the workshop crate it in wood and arrange freight: air or courier for small pieces, sea freight for large ones, which is cheaper but takes weeks. The total cost has four parts: crating, freight, insurance, and the import duty and tax charged in your own country.
Agree in writing whether the price is to your door with duties paid or only to the port, declare the real value, and photograph the piece before it is packed. For anything large, shipping can cost as much as the statue itself.
See the carving before you commit to shipping
Our half day visits a working yard in Non Nuoc with no sales stop, so any buying decision is yours alone.
★Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha & the Stone CarversThe Marble Mountains caves at the hour the light comes in, the Lady Buddha on Son Tra and a working Non Nuoc carving yard, with your own guide and car. · 5 hoursSee the tour →Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha & Hoi An by Lantern LightSon Tra, the Marble Mountains caves and a Non Nuoc carving yard in the morning, then Hoi An old town and a boat on the Thu Bon as the lanterns come on. · 10 hoursSee the tour →What makes up the cost of shipping a statue?
| Part | What it covers | Who usually arranges it |
|---|---|---|
| Crating | A wooden crate with padding and bracing, built around the piece | The workshop |
| Freight | Air, courier or sea transport from Vietnam | The workshop or a freight forwarder |
| Insurance | Cover against breakage and loss in transit, based on declared value | The shipper, if you ask for it |
| Import duty and tax | Charged by your own country above its duty-free threshold | You, unless the price is duties paid |
| Delivery at home | From the port or airport to your door, and sometimes unloading | Depends on the terms agreed |
We do not publish rates, because they depend on weight, size, destination and season, and change often. Ask the seller for a written quote that names each part and says where it ends: at the port, at the airport, or at your door.
Sea, air or courier?
For a small piece that fits a box, a courier or air freight is quickest and simplest, and the price is driven by weight. For large and heavy statues, sea freight is the usual choice: slower, often several weeks, but far cheaper per kilo. Sea shipments often end at a port, where someone has to clear customs and collect.
Door-to-door terms, where the seller or their agent handles customs and delivery, cost more but save you dealing with a port and a broker. Port-to-port is cheaper if you already know a forwarder at home.
What do customs at home involve?
Most countries charge no duty on personal imports below a set value, and charge duty and usually sales tax above it. The thresholds and rates are set by your own country, not by Vietnam. Declare the real price you paid, with the receipt; under-declaring is the quickest way to have a shipment held and opened.
Wooden crates matter too. Many countries require wooden packaging to be heat-treated and stamped under the international ISPM 15 standard; untreated wood can be refused or fumigated at your cost. Ask the workshop whether their crates carry the mark.
What goes wrong, and how do you prevent it?
| Common problem | How to prevent it |
|---|---|
| The statue arrives chipped or broken | Photograph it before packing; ask for foam and bracing inside the crate |
| A heavy base snaps the figure in transit | Ask for the base to be packed separately where the design allows |
| Surprise charges at the port | Get the quote in writing, stating whether it is to the door and duties paid |
| The shipment is held by customs | Declare the true value and keep the receipt with the paperwork |
| A different piece arrives | Mark or photograph the exact piece and keep the photos with the receipt |
Before choosing a shop, see buying marble in Da Nang and how to tell real marble from resin.
Want to see the craft without the sales pitch?
Our half day includes a working yard in Non Nuoc, after the caves of Thuy Son and the Lady Buddha.
Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha & the Stone Carvers5 hoursSee the tour →Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha & Hoi An by Lantern Light10 hoursSee the tour →Shipping a statue from Vietnam: quick answers
Can Non Nuoc workshops ship statues abroad?
Many can. Most established workshops offer wooden crating and international delivery. Ask for a written quote that names every cost and says where delivery ends.
How long does it take to ship a statue from Vietnam?
Courier and air shipments usually take days to a couple of weeks. Sea freight usually takes several weeks, plus time for customs clearance.
Do I pay import duty on a statue from Vietnam?
It depends on your country and the value. Above your country’s duty-free threshold, you usually pay duty and sales tax unless the price was agreed as duties paid.
What is ISPM 15?
An international standard for wooden packaging. Many countries require crates to be heat-treated and stamped; ask the workshop whether theirs are.
See the carving, decide at your own pace
Choose your group size and the price covers the day: pickup, private car, licensed guide, every ticket and water. Free to cancel until 3 days before.
★Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha & the Stone CarversThe Marble Mountains caves at the hour the light comes in, the Lady Buddha on Son Tra and a working Non Nuoc carving yard, with your own guide and car. · 5 hoursfrom$39/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$135BOOK →2 guests$140BOOK →3 guests$150BOOK →4 guests$155BOOK →See the full tour page →Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha & Hoi An by Lantern LightSon Tra, the Marble Mountains caves and a Non Nuoc carving yard in the morning, then Hoi An old town and a boat on the Thu Bon as the lanterns come on. · 10 hoursfrom$89/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$265BOOK →2 guests$295BOOK →3 guests$325BOOK →4 guests$355BOOK →See the full tour page →Shipping practice was checked in September 2026; duties and rules are set by your destination country and change over time.