How much Vietnamese coffee beans can be shipped?

Coffee beans are general food and are exempt from inspection within 6kg for personal use. It is recommended to ship in batches (4-5 kg each) to preserve freshness. The packaging is preferably vacuum packed and has a shelf life of at least 6 months. Trung Nguyên G7 instant coffee is the most popular containerized item.

Does Lazada / Shopee SEA accept Taiwanese credit cards?

Partially accepted. Lazada Vietnam / Thailand / Malaysia mostly supports Visa / Master / JCB international cards. Shopee's acceptance varies from country to country (it is recommended to try it during checkout). If that fails, you can use Wise cross-border remittance or local friends to purchase on your behalf (personal assistance). Good Luck Machine does not provide cross-border payment (according to §29 of the Banking Law).

How to buy in Tokopedia, Indonesia?

Tokopedia is the largest local e-commerce company in Indonesia, but its interface is only in Indonesian and does not accept international cards. Recommendations for Taiwanese users: ① Use Indonesian friends to assist in placing orders (private purchasing agent) ② Apply for a Wise multi-currency trial account ③ Some products can be found through Lazada Indonesia. After completing the purchase, send the container to the Indonesian cooperative warehouse for consolidation and transportation back to Taiwan. Good Luck Machine does not provide cross-border payment services (in accordance with §29 of the Banking Law).

Can Thai Buddha statues and religious items be sent back to Taiwan?

Generally, Buddha statues and statues of gods are acceptable, but they need to be declared as cultural items or decorations (cannot be written as cultural relics). Note: Ancient cultural relics and items over 100 years old are not accepted; CITES species containing ivory, rhinoceros horns, etc. are prohibited; large items require confirmation of freight. It is recommended to contact Good Luck Machine customer service in advance to confirm individual products.

Is the quality of Southeast Asian products guaranteed?

Look at the brand and seller. The quality of Lazada / Shopee third-party sellers varies. It is recommended to choose Lazada Mall (self-operated) or the brand’s official flagship store; check the rating (4.5+ on a 5-star scale) + sales volume (>100); purchase additional goods for inspection when high-priced goods arrive (NT$30-50/item).

Complete Southeast Asia to Taiwan Forwarding Guide

2026 guide for Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia forwarding: Lazada, Shopee SEA, Tokopedia, coffee, spices, handicrafts, and religious goods

Why is Southeast Asia forwarding worth doing?
4 major countries and product specialties
5 major Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms
4 steps for Southeast Asia forwarding
7 product categories worth buying from Southeast Asia
Air vs ocean shipping cost comparison
FAQ

Why Is Southeast Asia Forwarding Worth Doing?

Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, is less commonly used by Taiwan consumers for shopping and forwarding, but it has unique advantages:

Very low prices: labor and raw-material costs are low, often 50-70% cheaper than Europe and the U.S.
Unique products: coffee beans, spices, religious goods, handicrafts, and spa fragrances
Convenient wholesale sourcing: suitable for stores, offices, and bulk restocking
Large multilingual communities: many Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai workers and new residents live in Taiwan

Solution: HowBridge integrates forwarding networks across 4 Southeast Asian countries, with partner warehouses in Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur. Parcels can be consolidated and shipped to Taiwan by air or ocean.

4 Major Countries and Product Specialties

VN Vietnam

Specialty products: Vietnamese coffee beans such as Trung Nguyen and Highlands, roasted cashews, dried pho noodles, traditional ao dai clothing, lacquerware, silver jewelry, and northern Vietnamese herbal products.

Main platforms: Tiki.vn, the largest local platform, Shopee Vietnam, and Lazada VN. Many platforms support local Vietnamese payment, bank transfer, and some international Visa cards.

Notes: Vietnamese tobacco, such as Lotus and Vinataba, cannot be shipped. Dried herbs may require plant quarantine.

TH Thailand

Specialty products: Thai spices such as green curry paste, red curry, and tom yum paste, Thai silk, leather goods, handicrafts, spa essential oils, and Buddhist statues, subject to Taiwan customs rules.

Main platforms: Lazada Thailand, Shopee TH, JD.co.th, and JIB for electronics.

Notes: Buddhist statues and religious goods should be declared as "cultural goods" and not as antiques or relics.

ID Indonesia

Specialty products: Indonesian coffee beans such as Mandheling and Toraja, coconut products, Bali handicrafts, Indonesian batik textiles, sambal chili sauce, and halal religious foods.

Main platforms: Tokopedia, the largest local platform, Lazada ID, Shopee ID, and Bukalapak.

Notes: the interface is mainly Indonesian and local payment is common, so buying-agent assistance may be needed.

MY Malaysia

Specialty products: Malaysian coffee such as white coffee and OldTown, bak kut teh spice packs, halal-certified foods, durian products such as freeze-dried durian, candy, and cakes, plus British-brand goods due to colonial history.

Main platforms: Lazada Malaysia, Shopee MY, PG Mall, and Hermo for beauty products.

Notes: durian products can face air-shipping limits because of strong odor, and some IATA restrictions may apply.

5 Major Southeast Asian E-Commerce Platforms

Cross-border platforms vs local platforms

Southeast Asian e-commerce has two broad types: 1. regional groups such as Lazada / Shopee / TikTok Shop, which cover multiple countries and often have English interfaces; 2. local platforms such as Vietnam Tiki and Indonesia Tokopedia, which mostly use local languages. A mixed approach works best.

Lazada, under Alibaba Group: covers 6 markets, including Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore; English interface is available in many places, and some international cards are supported
Shopee SEA: covers 7 markets, has multilingual interfaces, mainly uses Shopee Pay, and sometimes supports Visa
TikTok Shop: live-commerce platform with many influencer-promoted products
Tokopedia, Indonesia's largest platform: local platform, buying-agent support is often required
Tiki.vn, Vietnam's largest platform: local platform, buying-agent support is often required

4 Steps for Southeast Asia Forwarding

1Get a HowBridge Southeast Asia Partner Warehouse Address

Register with HowBridge for free. In the member center, choose one of the partner warehouses in Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Jakarta, or Kuala Lumpur.

2Place the Order with the Local Warehouse Address

At Southeast Asian checkout, enter our partner warehouse address plus your member ID. For Lazada / Shopee stores that accept international cards, you can order directly. Local platforms may require a buying-agent service.

3Consolidate After Warehouse Arrival

After products arrive at the local warehouse, they are consolidated and packed. Choose: 1. air shipping, 5-7 days 2. ocean shipping, 10-15 days 3. route through Shenzhen for consolidation, 14-21 days and usually cheapest.

4Customs Clearance, EZWay, and Delivery

After arrival in Taiwan, confirm the import declaration in the EZWay app, wait for customs release, and receive local delivery. See the complete EZWay tutorial.

7 Product Categories Worth Buying from Southeast Asia

1. Coffee Beans, the Most Popular Category

Vietnam Trung Nguyen coffee, Indonesian Mandheling, Malaysian white coffee, and northern Thai coffee can be 40-60% cheaper than Taiwan.
Note: coffee is treated as general food, and personal-use imports under 6 kg are usually exempt from inspection.

2. Spices and Seasonings

Thai curry paste, Indonesian sambal, Vietnamese fish sauce, and Malaysian bak kut teh packs. Always choose intact retail packaging and at least 6 months of remaining shelf life.
Note: bak kut teh containing pork is prohibited, though most packs are plant-based spices. See the food forwarding guide.

3. Clothing and Textiles

Vietnamese ao dai, Indonesian batik, Thai silk, and Indian saris. Many are handmade, inexpensive, and connected to international-brand OEM supply chains.

4. Handicrafts and Home Decor

Vietnamese lacquerware, Thai wood carving, Indonesian rattan furniture after disassembly, and Bali stone carvings.

5. Spa Products and Essential Oils

Thailand Karmakamet fragrances, Indonesian coconut oil, Bali essential oils, and Vietnamese green balm products similar to medicated balm.

6. Silver Jewelry and Gemstones

Thai 925 silver jewelry, Indonesian sapphires subject to CITES concerns, and Myanmar jade distributed through Laos channels.

7. Store Restocking from Lazada / Shopee Wholesale

Southeast Asia has many OEM factories. Socks, T-shirts, and accessories can be 20-30% cheaper than China 1688 imports in some categories. See the B2B wholesale forwarding guide.

Air vs Ocean Shipping Cost Comparison

Method	Transit time	Shipping cost per kg	Best for
Air express	5-7 days	NT$80-150	Urgent, light, high-value goods
Direct ocean freight	10-15 days	NT$30-50	Oversized and heavy goods
Consolidate via Shenzhen	14-21 days	NT$25-40	Lowest freight for multi-SKU consolidation

Southeast Asia to Taiwan FAQ

Q1. How much Vietnamese coffee can I forward?

Coffee beans are general food. For personal use, shipments under 6 kg are usually exempt from inspection. We recommend splitting shipments, about 4-5 kg each, to preserve freshness. Vacuum packaging is best, with at least 6 months of remaining shelf life. Trung Nguyen G7 instant coffee is one of the most popular forwarded items.

Q2. Do Lazada / Shopee SEA accept Taiwan credit cards?

Some do. Lazada Vietnam / Thailand / Malaysia often support international Visa / Master / JCB cards. Shopee acceptance varies by country, so try at checkout. If payment fails, options include Wise cross-border transfer or private assistance from local friends. HowBridge does not provide cross-border payment services under Taiwan banking-law restrictions.

Q3. How do I buy from Indonesia Tokopedia?

Tokopedia is Indonesia's largest local e-commerce platform, but the interface is Indonesian and international cards are generally not accepted. Taiwan users can: 1. ask Indonesian friends for private purchase assistance 2. try a Wise multi-currency account 3. look for the same item on Lazada Indonesia. After purchase, ship to HowBridge's Indonesia partner warehouse for forwarding to Taiwan.

Q4. Can Thai Buddhist statues and religious goods be shipped to Taiwan?

Ordinary Buddhist statues and religious items can usually be shipped, but they should be declared as "cultural goods" or "decorations," not antiques. Notes: 1. antiques or items over 100 years old are not allowed 2. ivory, rhino horn, and other CITES species are prohibited 3. oversized items require shipping-cost confirmation. Contact HowBridge support in advance for individual items.

Q5. Is Southeast Asian product quality reliable?

It depends on the brand and seller. Third-party sellers on Lazada / Shopee vary widely. Recommendations: 1. choose Lazada Mall or official brand stores 2. check ratings, preferably 4.5+ out of 5, and sales volume over 100 3. add warehouse inspection for high-value items, usually NT$30-50 per item.

Q6. Can Malaysian durian products be shipped?

Freeze-dried durian, durian candy, and packaged durian cakes can be forwarded when packaging is complete. Fresh durian and unpackaged durian products are not accepted because of strong odor and air-shipping restrictions. We recommend ocean shipping plus vacuum packaging. Malaysia Musang King freeze-dried durian is a popular forwarded item.

Forward from Southeast Asia with HowBridge

4 partner warehouses in Ho Chi Minh City / Bangkok / Jakarta / Kuala Lumpur, Lazada/Shopee SEA platform support, and 24/7 multilingual customer service

Ship from China to Taiwan with Lucky Shipper

Lucky Shipper provides China warehouse receiving, consolidation, protective packing, cross-border transport, import clearance and EZ WAY guidance. Confirm the item and route before choosing a shipping plan.

China warehouseConsolidationAir / sea optionsCustoms tracking

Commitment to Lawful Operation (Taiwan Business Registration No. 57151105 · AEO-certified partner customs broker)

✅ We provide

Cross-border consolidated shipping (sea freight / express sea / air freight)
Import customs clearance through our AEO-certified partner customs broker
Official uniform invoices (for consolidated shipping services only)
14-language customer support + EZ WAY real-name verification assistance

❌ We do not provide

RMB or foreign currency payment on your behalf (under Article 29 of the Banking Act, non-banks may not conduct currency exchange business)
Placing and paying for cross-border orders on your behalf (please use your own payment channels)
Advancing funds or paying by credit card on your behalf

Lawful cross-border payment channels:

① Alipay verified with a Taiwan Compatriot Permit ② Wise / WorldFirst cross-border transfers ③ RMB accounts with E.SUN Bank or CTBC Bank ④ Some sellers accept Visa / Mastercard international cards directly