Vietnam’s ornamental plant export procedure is witnessing impressive growth thanks to the diversity of varieties, from artistic bonsai and feng shui office plants to landscape plants and tropical ornamental flowers. The rising demand for green living-space decoration in Southeast Asian markets and China, as well as in premium markets such as Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the US, has opened up enormous business opportunities for Vietnamese nurseries and trading companies.
However, as a category of living plant goods with the risk of carrying pests or falling under seed/variety source management, the ornamental plant export procedure requires businesses to strictly comply with regulations on plant quarantine, variety recognition, growing medium/soil control, and international conservation conventions. The article below details all the legal basis, HS codes, procedures, costs, and risk notes to help businesses carry out the ornamental plant export procedure accurately, smoothly, and cost-effectively.
1. Potential and Main Ornamental Plant Export Markets
Vietnam has favorable tropical climate conditions along with famous traditional ornamental plant villages stretching from North to South (such as Nam Dinh, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Lam Dong). Our country’s capacity to supply artistic ornamental plants and landscape plants is increasingly refined, meeting the world’s stringent standards.
Each consumption market has its own particular tastes and quarantine technical barriers:
- China & Southeast Asian markets (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand): Favor feng shui plants, large landscape plants, and Tet (Lunar New Year) ornamental plants. The short overland transport advantage helps optimize costs and keep plant survival rates high.
- Japanese & South Korean markets: Particularly fond of artistic bonsai varieties, mini ornamental plants, yellow apricot (mai vàng), and Podocarpus (tùng la hán). This market imposes extremely strict controls on insects, fungal diseases, and microbial cleanliness in the growing medium.
- European (EU) & US markets: Have high demand for tropical foliage plants (Monstera, Philodendron, Anthurium) and bonsai. However, phytosanitary quarantine regulations and the ban on importing living soil are the biggest barriers for businesses.
2. Legal Basis Governing the Ornamental Plant Export Procedure
To ensure the shipment clears customs legally, businesses need to cross-check the system of legal documents that directly govern plant trade and phytosanitary quarantine activities:
| Legal Document | Main Regulatory Content |
|---|---|
| Law on Cultivation 2018 (Law No. 31/2018/QH14) | Regulates plant variety management, variety circulation, and import-export of plant varieties and plant genetic resources. |
| Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine 2013 | Regulates export phytosanitary quarantine work, and treatment of items subject to quarantine before leaving the territory. |
| Decree 69/2018/ND-CP (replaced by Decree 292/2026/ND-CP from September 5, 2026) | Provides detailed regulations under the Law on Foreign Trade Management; identifies ordinary ornamental plants as freely exportable, except for species on the list of banned exports or rare genetic resources. |
| CITES Convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) | Mandatory application when exporting ornamental plant varieties under the CITES Appendices (such as certain wild orchid species, cycads, natural cacti…). |
| Decree 38/2026/ND-CP & Resolution 36/2026/NQ-CP | Digital transformation, simplification of administrative procedures, and digitization of the process for issuing the Phytosanitary Certificate. |
| Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC (amended by Circular 39/2018/TT-BTC) | Regulations on customs procedures, customs inspection and supervision for exported goods. |
Firmly grasping this legal framework helps businesses correctly determine whether a given plant variety is permitted for export before proceeding with contract negotiations.
3. Mandatory Conditions and Quarantine Regulations for Exported Ornamental Plants
Unlike industrial goods, ornamental plants are living items requiring extremely strict specialized management conditions when carrying out the ornamental plant export procedure:
| Requirement / Condition | Issuing / Managing Authority | Detailed Content & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phytosanitary Certificate | Regional Sub-Department of Plant Protection (Department of Plant Protection) | 100% mandatory for every ornamental plant shipment. Confirms the plant is not carrying pests (insects, fungi, bacteria) regulated by the importing country. |
| Growing Medium & Soil Regulations | Importing country’s quarantine authority | Most countries (US, EU, Japan, South Korea) completely BAN attached natural soil. Plants must have roots washed clean (bare-root) or be grown in sterile artificial growing media (treated coconut coir, mined peat moss, perlite). |
| CITES Export Permit (if under the Appendices) | Vietnam CITES Management Authority (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) | Mandatory for plant species under the endangered conservation list (such as wild orchid species, Cycas…). Artificially propagated plants must have certification of legal origin. |
| Growing area code / Packing facility code (if required) | Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection | Some markets such as China require exporting ornamental plant nurseries to register a growing area code and undergo periodic disease control. |
4. HS Code and Ornamental Plant Export Tax
Living ornamental plants are primarily classified under Chapter 06 – “Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage.” Applying the correct HS code determines the management policy and tariff rate.
| Item Description | Reference HS Code | Vietnam Export Tax | Import Tax Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potted ornamental plants, live bonsai | 0602.90.10 / 0602.90.90 | 0% | Preferential tax rates apply under FTAs (ATIGA, CPTPP, EVFTA, VJEPA) with a valid C/O. |
| Feng shui plants, tropical foliage plants | 0602.90.20 | 0% | Many markets apply a 0% tax rate to encourage green spaces. |
| Live orchids | 0602.90.70 | 0% | Requires additionally cross-checking CITES regulations if the orchids are wild/natural. |
| Bulbs, tubers, and rooted sprouts of ornamental plants | 0601.10.00 / 0601.20.00 | 0% | Easier to preserve during long-distance transport. |
Note on export tax: The export tax on live ornamental plants in Vietnam is currently 0%. However, the biggest risk lies in determining the plant’s origin (avoiding confusion with banned timber species or wild forest plants) and accurately checking the importing country’s growing medium requirements. Businesses should consult a professional logistics provider to carry out the ornamental plant export procedure safely.
5. Detailed Quarantine Requirements by Key Export Market
The biggest difference in the ornamental plant export procedure between countries lies in the technical barriers regarding pests and growing medium treatment regulations:
| Market | Quarantine & Growing Medium Requirements | Mandatory Treatment & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China | Absolute check for the absence of nematodes and soil fungi. Requires a registered growing area code list for certain plant lines. | Transport with the whole root ball is permitted if the growing medium has undergone heat treatment/disinfection and is accepted by customs on both sides. |
| US (USDA-APHIS) | Complete ban on soil. Plants must have roots shaken clean (bare-root) or be planted in a US-approved growing medium (such as treated coconut coir, Sphagnum moss). | Requires an Import Permit obtained in advance by the buyer in the US, along with the corresponding Phytosanitary Certificate. |
| Japan & South Korea | 100% quarantine inspection of the shipment at the arrival port. Absolute ban on live insects (aphids, spider mites, leafminers) attached. | Typically requires fumigation or biological chemical treatment before export. |
| Europe (EU) | Compliance with the EU Plant Health Law (Regulation 2016/2031). Plants must not carry the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium. | The growing medium must be sterile, with an Additional Declaration confirmed on the Phytosanitary Certificate. |
6. Documentation Set for the Ornamental Plant Export Procedure
To ensure the documentation set for the ornamental plant export procedure is fully legally compliant and clears customs quickly, businesses need to prepare the following documents:
| Document Name | When to Prepare | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Contract | Before harvesting / treating the plants | Clearly specify the plant variety (scientific name), quantity, height, and packaging type (bare-root or potted growing medium). |
| Commercial Invoice & Packing List | After completing the packing | Clearly show the number of boxes/packages, weight, and container/flight number. |
| Phytosanitary Certificate | Register 2-3 days before export | The original certificate is issued by the Vietnam Plant Quarantine Authority after samples pass the required inspection. |
| CITES Export Permit (if applicable) | Apply for before export packaging | Only applies to endangered plant species regulated under the CITES list. |
| Certificate of Origin (C/O) | After completing export customs clearance | Helps the importing partner reduce or exempt import tax under Free Trade Agreements. |
| Export Customs Declaration (VNACCS) | When the goods are brought to the border gate / export port | Transmit the electronic declaration, correctly declaring the HS code and the plant’s scientific name. |
7. Step-by-Step Process for the Ornamental Plant Export Procedure
Below is the standard, detailed 6-step ornamental plant export procedure to help businesses easily follow and implement:
Step 1: Check the Plant’s Scientific Name and the Importing Country’s Regulations
Accurately look up the Botanical Name of the ornamental plant species intended for export. Cross-check whether this plant species is under CITES or on Vietnam’s list of banned export plant varieties. At the same time, request the buyer to provide the destination country’s quarantine regulations (Import Permit / Phytosanitary Requirements).
Step 2: Pre-process, Treat the Roots, and Pack the Ornamental Plants
Treat the plants according to the importing country’s requirements:
- For markets banning soil: Completely wash all soil and sand from the root system, trim old leaves to reduce water loss. Wrap the root system with moist moss, sterile coconut coir, or moisture-retaining paper.
- For potted/root-balled plants: Use an artificial growing medium that has undergone heat treatment or approved chemical disinfection.
- Pack the plants into ventilated cardboard boxes, wooden crates, or secure them firmly in a reefer container/dry container.
Step 3: Register Phytosanitary Quarantine for the Ornamental Plant Shipment
Businesses submit the phytosanitary quarantine registration documentation online via the National Single Window Portal or directly at the nearest regional Sub-Department of Plant Quarantine. The documentation includes: Quarantine Registration Form, Import Permit of the destination country (if applicable), Contract, Invoice, Packing List.
Step 4: The Quarantine Authority Takes Samples and Conducts a Physical Inspection
Quarantine officers will come to the nursery or the packing warehouse/export port to physically inspect the ornamental plant shipment:
- Check the plants’ health condition and signs of fungal disease, aphids, or pests.
- Check compliance with growing medium regulations (ensuring no natural soil remains).
- If the shipment meets standards, the Sub-Department of Plant Quarantine will issue the original Phytosanitary Certificate.
Step 5: Customs Declaration and Clearance of the Export Shipment
Prepare and transmit the electronic VNACCS customs declaration. Attach the Phytosanitary Certificate and related documents to the system. Bring the goods to the border gate/seaport/airport for customs officers to verify and approve clearance.
Step 6: International Transport and Finalizing the Documentation Set for the Buyer
Hand over the ornamental plant shipment to the shipping line or airline. Hand over the original Quarantine Certificate, C/O, and the commercial documentation set to the importer so they can carry out procedures to receive the plants at the destination country.
8. Methods and Techniques for Preserving Ornamental Plants During Transport
Since ornamental plants are living goods, the micro-environment throughout transport directly determines the plant’s survival rate and aesthetic condition upon arrival:
- Air Freight: Most suitable for premium ornamental plant lines, expensive foliage plants, mini bonsai, or bare-root seedlings. The extremely short transport time (1-3 days) prevents the plants from becoming exhausted or losing exposure to light.
- Sea transport via Reefer Container: Applied to large-volume ornamental plant shipments, landscape plants, medium and large bonsai. The reefer container helps maintain a stable temperature (usually 12°C – 18°C depending on the species) and ventilation, allowing the plants to enter a temporary “dormant” state throughout the 7-20 day journey.
- Road transport (refrigerated trucks / caged trucks): The most optimal method for export routes to China, Laos, and Cambodia. Fast loading, easy to care for, and very reasonable cost.
9. Time and Cost in the Ornamental Plant Export Procedure
Businesses need to carefully plan out costs and operational timelines to avoid storage delays that could affect the plants’ health.
| Work Item | Estimated Time | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Register & Sample for Phytosanitary Quarantine | 1 – 2 working days | Quarantine fee per the state fee schedule (depending on quantity/volume) |
| Fumigation / Fungal Disease Treatment (if applicable) | 1 day | 1,200,000 – 2,500,000 VND/container or per Air shipment |
| Export customs declaration | 0.5 – 1 day | 800,000 – 1,500,000 VND/declaration |
| Applying for a preferential tariff C/O | 1 – 2 working days | 500,000 – 1,000,000 VND/set |
| International freight (Air / Sea Reefer / Road) | Depends on the destination market | Per the actual quote from the shipping line/airline |
Practical note: Pre-processing costs (root washing, coconut coir packing, insulating foam) and refrigerated freight typically account for a large share of the cost structure. Businesses need to proactively calculate these in detail before quoting C&F or CIF prices to customers.
10. Common Risks and Remediation Solutions When Exporting Ornamental Plants
When carrying out the ornamental plant export procedure, biological incidents or documentation errors can cause extremely heavy losses. Below is a summary table of risks and prevention solutions:
| Risk Encountered | Actual Consequence | Effective Prevention Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Goods held/destroyed at the destination country due to attached natural soil | The importing country’s quarantine authority re-exports or destroys the entire plant shipment, with the business bearing all costs. | Strictly supervise the pre-processing step. Wash the roots clean with a light-pressure spray nozzle, and switch to a 100%-compliant sterile growing medium. |
| Plants die, root rot, leaves wilt during transport | Plants lose commercial value, customer files a complaint demanding contract compensation. | Trim excess leaves, spray anti-dehydration agents. Set the correct temperature/humidity/ventilation for the reefer container and choose a reputable transport provider. |
| Incorrect scientific name on the Quarantine Certificate | The importing country’s customs refuses to accept the certificate, wasting time on corrections. | Accurately and consistently declare the Botanical Name from the Contract, Invoice, to the Quarantine Registration. |
| Delayed booking, missed flight/vessel departure | Plants must be stored for a long time in low-light conditions, leading to weakening and death of the shipment. | Schedule harvesting and packing to precisely match the confirmed vessel/flight schedule (Confirmed Booking). |
11. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About the Ornamental Plant Export Procedure
Question 1: Can ornamental plants in porcelain pots with attached soil be exported to the US or Europe?
No. The US, EU, Japan, and South Korea completely prohibit the import of natural soil from foreign countries in order to prevent soil-borne fungal diseases and nematodes. Ornamental plants exported to these countries must have all soil completely washed off (bare-root) or be planted in approved sterile growing media (such as treated coconut coir, moss, Perlite).
Question 2: Can an individual carry out the ornamental plant export procedure under their own name?
Individuals can fully export ornamental plants on a non-commercial basis or entrust logistics/import-export service companies to carry out the procedure under their name. However, for large commercial-volume exports, individuals should establish a Business or Household Business registered with an import-export business line to facilitate customs declaration and applying for a C/O.
Question 3: Can yellow apricot (mai vàng) trees or kumquat (quất/tắc) trees be exported for Tet?
Yes. Yellow apricot and ornamental kumquat trees can fully be exported to markets with large Vietnamese communities such as the US, Australia, and Southeast Asia. However, the soil on the root ball must be thoroughly cleaned, excess leaves trimmed, and phytosanitary quarantine must confirm the absence of scale insects or the bacterium causing citrus greening disease (for kumquat trees).
Question 4: How long does phytosanitary quarantine for ornamental plants take?
Typically, the phytosanitary quarantine process and issuance of the Phytosanitary Certificate takes 1 to 2 working days from when quarantine officers complete the physical sampling at the nursery or warehouse.
3W Logistics Provides Comprehensive, Safe Support for the Ornamental Plant Export Procedure
Exporting living plants such as ornamental plants always demands a high level of care in documentation and transport technique. As a leading freight forwarder with OTI-NVOCC certification issued by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) along with a direct SCAC Code, 3W Logistics is a trusted partner for numerous nurseries and agricultural/ornamental plant export businesses in Vietnam.
3W Logistics brings a comprehensive solution to help optimize the ornamental plant export procedure:
- Legal consulting & market-specific quarantine regulations: Carefully assesses the plant’s scientific name, accurately advises on the growing medium and quarantine regulations of the importing country (US, EU, Japan, South Korea, China…), helping businesses avoid the risk of re-export.
- Comprehensive Phytosanitary Certificate execution: Represents the business in working directly with the Sub-Department of Plant Quarantine, registers for sampling, coordinates inspection, and obtains the certificate quickly.
- Professional electronic customs declaration service: An experienced team smoothly handles the VNACCS declaration, advises on the correct HS code, and represents the business in explanations to border gate customs.
- Specialized sea transport & air freight solutions: Books reefer containers, precisely sets standard temperature ranges and ventilation levels for ornamental plants; provides express air freight solutions for premium foliage plants and bonsai lines.
- Direct House Bill issuance & direct AMS/ISF filing to the US: Helps businesses have complete control over documentation timelines, shortens processing time, and minimizes intermediary costs.
Accompanying Vietnamese green to reach the world: “For living ornamental plant shipments, logistics is not simply about moving goods from point A to point B – it is the challenge of protecting the plant’s life. At 3W Logistics, we provide meticulous consulting from choosing the right approved growing medium, guiding root-wrapping techniques to retain moisture, to monitoring the reefer container’s temperature throughout the journey. Our deep understanding of technique and legal requirements helps us ensure our customers’ ornamental plant shipments stay lush and clear customs as smoothly as possible.” – Ms. Apple, CCO 3W Logistics
Head Office – 3W Logistics Ho Chi Minh City Branch
Address: 34 Bach Dang, Tan Son Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Hotline: +84 28 3535 0087
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3W Logistics Hanoi Branch
Address: 81A Tran Quoc Toan, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi
Hotline: +84 24 3202 0482
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Address: 8A Lot 28 Le Hong Phong, Gia Vien Ward, Hai Phong
Hotline: +84 225 355 5939
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3W LOGISTICS CO., LTD – We here serve you there!
Email: info@3w-logistics.com
Website: www.3w-logistics.com
Ms. Apple is the CCO (Chief Commercial Officer) at 3W Logistics, with over 10 years of experience in sales and business operations management.
At 3W Logistics, Ms. Apple is responsible for commercial strategy, corporate customer development, managing a team of more than 50 sales professionals, and improving business performance in the logistics sector.
With practical experience in sales management and market development, Ms. Apple shares professional insights on business logistics solutions, international transportation, freight forwarding, customer management, trade lane development, and growth strategies in the logistics industry.
