💰 Current Freight Rates
Price data updating. Contact us for current rates.
📋 Service Details
Vietnam Sea Freight from China: routing and transit
We move door-to-door sea freight from South China into Vietnam. Cargo enters through Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai and clears with General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan), which takes 2–5 days on average.
Vietnam is the shortest deep-sea lane out of South China — Shekou to Hai Phong is often 3–5 days. Northern Vietnam is also served overland through the Youyi Guan (Pingxiang) and Mong Cai crossings, which suits LCL and urgent replenishment for the Bac Ninh and Bac Giang electronics cluster.
Route facts
| Destination country | Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia Pacific |
| Mode | Sea Freight |
| Gateways used | Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai |
| Transit, China to gateway | 3–7 calendar days |
| Clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season | Sep–Nov |
Delivery cities on this lane
Each city below has its own guide covering the gateway that serves it, the inland leg after clearance and the local delivery requirements.
- China to Ho Chi Minh City — commercial capital and largest consumer market. Via SGN air / Cat Lai sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Hanoi — political capital and northern business centre. Via HAN air / Hai Phong sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Hai Phong — the north's main port city and industrial zone. Via HAN air / Hai Phong sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Da Nang — central Vietnam gateway and IT services hub. Via DAD air / Da Nang sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Binh Duong — the country's densest industrial-park province. Via SGN air / Cat Lai sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Dong Nai — manufacturing province adjoining Ho Chi Minh City. Via SGN air / Cai Mep sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Bac Ninh — electronics assembly cluster north of Hanoi. Via HAN air / Hai Phong sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Bac Giang — fast-growing electronics and component manufacturing province. Via HAN air / Hai Phong sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Can Tho — Mekong Delta commercial centre. Via SGN air / Cat Lai sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Nha Trang — coastal tourism and seafood-processing city. Via CXR air / Cam Ranh sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Hue — central heritage city with light manufacturing. Via DAD air / Da Nang sea; inland leg +1 day. Sea Freight guide →
- China to Vung Tau — offshore energy base next to the deepwater terminals. Via Cai Mep sea; inland leg same day. Sea Freight guide →
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ℹ️ Additional Information
Clearance requirements into Vietnam
VAT 8–10%; duty 0–35%, with 0% available on most tariff lines under ACFTA/RCEP with a valid Form E. The de-minimis position is VND 1,000,000 (roughly USD 40) on express parcels.
Conformity: Form E certificate of origin to claim ACFTA duty relief; MIC/Circular 04 type approval for radio equipment; energy-efficiency labelling for appliances.
Known friction points: Used machinery is subject to Decision 18/2019 age limits. Cosmetics need a product announcement filed by the consignee. Duty relief under Form E is only granted if the origin document matches the invoice exactly — a very common cause of held shipments.
Documents we file under DDP
- Commercial invoice showing HS codes and the true transaction value
- Packing list with carton count, gross and net weight, and dimensions
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin where it reduces the duty rate
- Product certification or conformity documents where the commodity requires them
Packing notes
- Chargeable weight is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 1000 for LCL chargeable volume)
- Use ISPM-15 treated wood for any pallet or crate — untreated timber is a common hold
- Mark every carton with the consignee name, city and carton number of total
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders before booking, not after
Other modes into Vietnam
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity rules change by ministerial decision. The figures here are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your HS code with General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) or your broker before shipping.
📊 China to Vietnam — Shipping Reference Data
| Main sea gateways | Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | VND 1,000,000 (roughly USD 40) on express parcels |
| Import tax & duty regime | VAT 8–10%; duty 0–35%, with 0% available on most tariff lines under ACFTA/RCEP with a valid Form E |
| Local currency | VND |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 2–5 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | Form E certificate of origin to claim ACFTA duty relief; MIC/Circular 04 type approval for radio equipment; energy-efficiency labelling for appliances |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools for This Sea Route
This page covers a Sea freight service from China to Vietnam. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Container Loading Planner
Sea freight to Vietnam prices by CBM or container — plan your 20GP/40GP/40HQ loading in 3D, compare utilization, and see exactly how many cartons fit before you commit to a booking.
Open Container Planner →✅ Vietnam Sea Freight Checklist
- Confirm whether your Vietnam rate is per CBM or per container before comparing quotes.
- Verify the receiver's customs import capability in Vietnam for DDP terms before booking.
- Ask whether the quote includes destination port charges in Vietnam or only ocean freight.
- Photograph the container number, seal, and loading process for insurance evidence.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Sea DDP Door-to-Door from China to Vietnam take?
Sea freight on this route runs about 25–45 calendar days door-to-door, plus roughly 2–5 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into Vietnam?
Clearance is handled by General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan). The regime is: VAT 8–10%; duty 0–35%, with 0% available on most tariff lines under ACFTA/RCEP with a valid Form E, with a de-minimis position of VND 1,000,000 (roughly USD 40) on express parcels. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
Which ports or airports does this route use into Vietnam?
Sea cargo to Vietnam clears through Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai; air freight clears via SGN (Ho Chi Minh City), HAN (Hanoi), DAD (Da Nang). We route through whichever gateway gives the fastest onward delivery to your address and build it into the DDP price.
What certification is needed to import into Vietnam?
For regulated goods, plan for: Form E certificate of origin to claim ACFTA duty relief; MIC/Circular 04 type approval for radio equipment; energy-efficiency labelling for appliances. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common clearance hold with General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan), so confirm requirements for your HS code before shipping.
When does capacity tighten on the China–Vietnam lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Book 1–2 weeks earlier in these periods.
How is the shipping cost on this route calculated?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) and charge the greater, rounded up to the next kilogram, then apply the per-KG rate shown in the table above.
⭐ Customer Reviews
What customers say about shipping to Vietnam with us.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Vietnam through this team. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
This was a DDP shipment to Vietnam for mixed cartons. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before. Theo doi lo hang ro rang trong suot qua trinh.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Vietnam. The handover and document checks were efficient. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Vietnam through this team. The handover and document checks were efficient. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We tested this lane to Vietnam with a mid-volume order. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. Cartons arrived clean and labels were still readable on delivery. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Vietnam. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We tested this lane to Vietnam with a mid-volume order. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Would use the same line again for general cargo.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Vietnam through this team. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports. Giao hang dung hen va khong co phi phat sinh bat ngo.
This was a DDP shipment to Vietnam for mixed cartons. The handover and document checks were efficient. Transit was close to the estimate and the destination delivery appointment was handled well. Overall a reliable experience for repeat imports.
Booked another door-to-door shipment to Vietnam through this team. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. The landed price stayed aligned with the quote, which helped our budgeting. A practical option when we need predictable landed cost.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Vietnam. Door delivery was arranged with minimal back and forth. Pickup from the supplier was arranged quickly and customs stayed under control. Better coordination than the forwarder we used before.
We used this route for a regular replenishment to Vietnam. The handover and document checks were efficient. The booking process was straightforward and the team confirmed documents early. Would use the same line again for general cargo. Giao hang dung hen va khong co phi phat sinh bat ngo.
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