Shipping from China to Hai Phong, Vietnam — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Hai Phong · via HAN air / Hai Phong sea · clearance by General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan)
For buyers shipping into Hai Phong, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Hai Phong is the north's main port city and industrial zone; cargo enters through HAN air / Hai Phong sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 2–5 days.
Import duty and tax position for Hai Phong
General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Hai Phong consignees. Current regime: 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.
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.
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 Hai Phong | HAN air / Hai Phong sea |
| Inland leg to Hai Phong | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Confirm the consignee in Hai Phong can act as importer of record — General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Vietnam duty rate against it yourself.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Air, sea or overland into Hai Phong?
| 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 Hai Phong and 2–5 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Hai Phong
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Hai Phong?
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 Hai Phong.
Which port or airport does cargo for Hai Phong clear through?
Cargo for Hai Phong is routed via HAN air / Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong?
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.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Hai Phong?
Yes. Delivery to a Hai Phong address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan), and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Hai Phong?
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.
Other delivery cities in Vietnam
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 Hai Phong
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.