Shipping from China to Vietnam — City Guides, Customs and Transit Times
China → Vietnam · clearance by General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan)
We move freight cargo from South China into Vietnam through SGN air / Cat Lai sea. Vietnam is served through Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
On the destination side, General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) handles clearance; budget 2–5 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
Routing and transit on this lane
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.
| Air gateways used | SGN (Ho Chi Minh City), HAN (Hanoi), DAD (Da Nang) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 2–4 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 3–7 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Vietnam | SGN air / Cat Lai sea |
| Inland leg to Vietnam | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Delivery cities in Vietnam
Principal delivery points: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, Bac Ninh, Dong Nai. Pick a city for the gateway it uses and the inland leg beyond clearance.
What you will pay on arrival in Vietnam
Imports into Vietnam are cleared by General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan). The headline position is: VAT 8–10%; duty 0–35%, with 0% available on most tariff lines under ACFTA/RCEP with a valid Form E. The de-minimis threshold is VND 1,000,000 (roughly USD 40) on express parcels.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Form E certificate of origin to claim ACFTA duty relief; MIC/Circular 04 type approval for radio equipment; energy-efficiency labelling for appliances. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Vietnam: 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.
Air, sea or overland into Vietnam?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 2–4 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 3–7 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Vietnam gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Vietnam and 2–5 days of clearance.
Before you book: Vietnam checklist
- Confirm the consignee in Vietnam can act as importer of record — General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Put the Vietnam delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: Form E certificate of origin to claim ACFTA duty relief; MIC/Circular 04 type approval for radio equipment; energy-efficiency labelling for appliances.
- Check the de-minimis position (VND 1,000,000 (roughly USD 40) on express parcels) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Vietnam take?
China to the Vietnam gateway is 2–4 business days by air, 3–7 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 2–5 days of clearance with General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) and a same-day inland leg to Vietnam.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Vietnam?
General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) applies: 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. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Vietnam.
What documents does General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (Form E certificate of origin to claim ACFTA duty relief; MIC/Circular 04 type approval for radio equipment; energy-efficiency labelling for appliances). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Vietnam?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Which port or airport does cargo for Vietnam clear through?
Cargo for Vietnam is routed via SGN air / Cat Lai sea. Sea gateways for Vietnam are Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai; air gateways are SGN (Ho Chi Minh City), HAN (Hanoi), DAD (Da Nang). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Vietnam?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via SGN (Ho Chi Minh City), HAN (Hanoi), DAD (Da Nang). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Vietnam change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) or your broker before you ship.
- General Department of Vietnam Customs
- Ministry of Industry and Trade
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Vietnam
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.