Do you need a work permit to ship your belongings to Vietnam?

I lived in Bangkok for a number of years where I had a professional job and where I met my Vietnamese wife.  I have moved to Vietnam and live in the house that my wife owns and now want to move my possessions from Thailand to Vietnam and into our house here.  I have contacted an international relocation company about this and their response was to tell me that I must have a work permit to be able to move any shipment into the country. 

I do not work in Vietnam but I am officially resident.  My wife works in a senior management position for a company in Ho Chi Minh City and therefore I have no financial need to work, though hope to do so if I can find a suitable role for my qualifications.  Is this advice correct i.e. I cannot officially ship any of my possessions into the country unless I have a work permit?