Can you claim a VAT refund in Ho Chi Minh City for an opened or activated iPhone?

An opened box does not automatically mean refusal: a VAT refund was successfully obtained for a new, unused iPhone with an opened package and a screen protector applied. The purchase was made a few days before departure; the phone was not switched on, and the serial number was likely checked.

For VAT refund purposes, the phone is formally expected to be unused. Customs may inspect the handset and match its model or serial number with the invoice, so a previously activated and used iPhone has no guaranteed refund outcome.

Before purchasing, confirm that the shop will issue the complete VAT-refund document set. In one reported refusal, the problem was missing paperwork rather than the handset itself; the box and receipt were sufficient for the product check.