Indian Buyer Flies to Vietnam, Buys MacBook Pro, Saves Rs 36,500 Even After Vacation

An Indian buyer saved ₹36,500 by flying to Vietnam to purchase a MacBook Pro with a VAT refund. Despite including travel and living costs, the total expense was still lower than the retail price in India, where high GST and import duties inflate electronics prices. The buyer declared the device legally and avoided shipping, which typically invites steep customs duties. This case highlights the impact of India’s high import taxes on consumer electronics like MacBook Pro.

An Indian traveller on a 11‑day visit to Vietnam returned back with a MacBook Pro bought in Hanoi for Rs 1.48 lakh after a VAT refund, ending up with a net saving of Rs 36,500 compared to the Rs 1.85 lakh retail price of the computer in India.

The total cost, including all the travel and living expenses, still remained less than the price of the MacBook in India.

Why did this approach save money?

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) and import duties on electronics is very steep in India. GST on laptops in India stands at 18 per cent, while customs duty adds another 20 per cent or more, adding up to effective rates of 30–38 per cent on imported MacBooks.

In contrast, the purchase in Vietnam came with VAT refund documentation and no such import levies into India because the traveller declared the device abroad rather than shipping it. After refund, the MacBook cost Rs 1.48 lakh versus Rs 1.85 lakh in India.

How were VAT refunds managed?

Buying across more than 15 Apple-authorised stores in Hanoi, the purchaser inquired diligently about VAT refund certificates. This enabled the claiming of local value‑added tax reclaimable to foreign visitors, maximising the cost advantage.

What did the total trip cost look like?

Adding up flight, lodging, meals and living expenses over 11 days, plus the MacBook net of refund, total expenditure came to Rs 1.97 lakh. By comparison, buying the same machine in India (Rs 1.85 lakh) would leave no room for travel. 

Essentially, even if the traveller valued the holiday at zero, they still emerged ahead by Rs 36,500.

Are there legal or customs risks?

India’s customs rules permit declared personal use items duty‑free up to a Rs 50,000 threshold. 

Beyond that, laptops can attract duties under HS codes around 8471 or 3926, typically totaling 10–20 per cent basic duty plus social welfare cess and IGST.

Travellers attempting to ship laptops face even higher scrutiny. Reddit community posts cite stuck shipments with assessed duties of up to 77 per cent. The key was in personally carrying the item, not shipping it.

What drives MacBook pricing in India?

Higher prices are a result of layered costs: basic customs duty (~10–20 per cent), education cess (2 per cent), secondary higher education cess (1 per cent), IGST (18 per cent), plus logistics, reseller markups and limited competition among authorised sellers.

Distribution and transport from manufacturing (often China or Vietnam) further drive up costs inside India. Distribution channels and a small number of resellers allow significant markup.

Could prices change going forward?

Apple is shifting some MacBook production into India under its supply‑chain diversification plans. This may eventually reduce import taxes and local retail pricing. The company is already exporting components from India to Vietnam and China, signalling future localisation of assembly.