Ocean & Air Freight Shipping to Vietnam

Vietnam is the 21st-largest export economy in the world and participates in active trade with countries around the world. In 2017, Vietnam’s imports amounted to $204 billion (USD) and originated mainly from China, South Korea, and Japan.

If you are planning to import to Vietnam, then this page is for you. We have gathered vital information to help you ship ocean and air freight to Vietnam with greater ease and success.

What Are Your Options for Shipping Freight to Vietnam?

You can choose between ocean and air freight for shipping your commercial goods to Vietnam. Each option has certain plus-points and drawbacks, which we will discuss on this page.

Ocean Freight to Vietnam

Less than Container Load (LCL): If you don’t want to hire a whole container to ship your freight to Vietnam, then LCL shipping is for you. Your goods will simply be loaded into a shared container. This is often the most economical way to transport smaller, lighter consignments.

Full Container Load (FCL): FCL requires you to rent and pay shipping for a full container at a flat fee for the entire journey to Vietnam. The main advantage is that your goods remain sealed in the container until they reach their final destination. FCL shipping might be the cheapest option when you are moving large amounts of products.

Air Freight to Vietnam

Even if your cargo can’t be transported on a direct flight to Vietnam, air freight is still the fastest way to ship your goods. However, it is also the most expensive option in most cases.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo to Vietnam?

This will depend on various criteria. Freight forwarders usually provide quotes for ocean and air shipping to Vietnam based on the following factors:

• Nature of goods
• Chosen mode of transport (FCL, LCL, Air)
• Weight of the cargo
• Dimension of the cargo
• Distance between origin and destination
• Type of service (such as Port-to-Port, Door-to-Door)

The weight of your goods is the factor that probably has the largest effect on the price. If your cargo weighs 100 kg or more, sea freight is typically the most cost-effective option. If you are shipping consignments between 35 kg and 100 kg, then you will notice almost no difference between ocean and air shipping rates. You can opt for the faster, more convenient method of transportation.

Cargo lighter than 35 kg won’t be handled by a freight forwarder such as Shipa Freight. You should engage an international courier service to transport these goods instead.

How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo to Vietnam?

Obviously, the seaport or airport of origin will largely affect your expected shipping times. In general, air shipments from a major international airport anywhere in the world will take between one day and six days to reach Vietnam. Ocean shipping will take longer than that. Your cargo will be at sea for at least four days—and as many as 57 days.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea to Vietnam?

Below you can see some examples of ocean shipping durations for Vietnam-bound freight from various locations around the world:

Country of Origin	Port of Origin	Destination Port	Transit Time LCL	Transit Time FCL
Australia	Adelaide	Ho Chi Minh City	17 Days
Australia	Brisbane	Ho Chi Minh City	24 Days
Australia	Melbourne	Haiphong	28 Days
Australia	Melbourne	Ho Chi Minh City	25 Days
Australia	Perth	Ho Chi Minh City	19 Days
Australia	Sydney	Ho Chi Minh City	24 Days
Australia	Sydney	Haiphong	25 Days
Brazil	Curitiba	Ho Chi Minh City	54 Days
Canada	Toronto	Ho Chi Minh City	56 Days
Canada	Vancouver	Ho Chi Minh City	28 Days
China	Shanghai	Ho Chi Minh City	14 Days	8 Days
China	Shanghai	Haiphong	7 Days	13 Days
China	Jiangmen	Haiphong	5 Days	7 Days
China	Dalian	Ho Chi Minh City	31 Days
China	Huangpu	Ho Chi Minh City	16 Days	24 Days
China	Qingdao	Haiphong	7 Days
China	Tianjin	Haiphong	13 Days
China	Zhongshan	Ho Chi Minh City	27 Days
China	Guangzhou	Ho Chi Minh City	14 Days
China	Shenzhen	Ho Chi Minh City	24 Days
China	Lianyungang	Haiphong	31 Days
France	Le Havre	Ho Chi Minh City	29 Days
Germany	Hamburg	Haiphong	36 Days
Finland	Helsinki	Ho Chi Minh City	52 Days
India	Kolkata	Haiphong	25 Days
India	Kolkata	Ho Chi Minh City	30 Days
India	Krishnapatnam	Haiphong	24 Days
India	Chennai	Haiphong	22 Days
India	Chennai	Ho Chi Minh City	21 Days
India	Mundra	Ho Chi Minh City	17 Days
India	Mundra	Haiphong	24 Days
India	Nhava Sheva	Ho Chi Minh City	21 Days	18 Days
India	Nhava Sheva	Haiphong	19 Days
Indonesia	Jakarta	Haiphong	10 Days	11 Days
Indonesia	Jakarta	Ho Chi Minh City	9 Days	17 Days
Indonesia	Belawan	Ho Chi Minh City	28 Days
Indonesia	Semarang	Ho Chi Minh City	29 Days
Indonesia	Surabaya	Haiphong	11 Days
Indonesia	Surabaya	Ho Chi Minh City	37 Days
Italy	Genoa	Ho Chi Minh City	27 Days
Japan	Kobe	Haiphong	18 Days
Japan	Tokyo	Ho Chi Minh City	31 Days
South Korea	Incheon	Ho Chi Minh City	21 Days
South Korea	Busan	Ho Chi Minh City	31 Days
Malaysia	Port Klang	Haiphong	10 Days	8 Days
Malaysia	Port Klang	Ho Chi Minh City	9 Days	16 Days
New Zealand	Auckland	Haiphong	27 Days
Norway	Oslo	Ho Chi Minh City	55 Days
Philippines	Manila	Ho Chi Minh City	15 Days	4 Days
Singapore	Singapore	Ho Chi Minh City	15 Days
Spain	Valencia	Haiphong	31 Days
Taiwan	Kaohsiung	Ho Chi Minh City	17 Days
Thailand	Bangkok	Ho Chi Minh City	8 Days	20 Days
Thailand	Laem Chabang	Haiphong	15 Days
Thailand	Laem Chabang	Ho Chi Minh City	21 Days
UAE	Jebel Ali	Haiphong	21 Days
UAE	Jebel Ali	Ho Chi Minh City	19 Days
United Kingdom	Felixstowe	Ho Chi Minh City	32 Days
USA	New York	Ho Chi Minh City	53 Days
USA	Chicago	Haiphong	36 Days
USA	Seattle	Da Nang	37 Days
USA	Oakland	Haiphong	29 Days
USA	Los Angeles	Haiphong	49 Days
USA	Long Beach	Ho Chi Minh City	30 Days
USA	New York	Haiphong	57 Days
USA	New York	Ho Chi Minh City	53 Days
USA	San Francisco	Ho Chi Minh City	36 Days
USA	Seattle	Da Nang	37 Days

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air to Vietnam?

The examples below show the transit times for air shipments to Vietnam from major international airports:

Country of Origin	Airport of Origin	Destination Airport	Transit Time
Australia	Brisbane	Hanoi	3 Days
Australia	Brisbane	Ho Chi Minh City	8 Days
Australia	Sydney	Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days
Australia	Perth	Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days
Australia	Perth	Hanoi	1 Day
Australia	Melbourne	Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days
China	Guangzhou	Hanoi	7 days
China	Guangzhou	Ho Chi Minh City	7 Days
China	Shanghai	Ho Chi Minh City	4 Days
China	Shanghai	Hanoi	5 Days
China	Beijing	Hanoi	8 Days
China	Shenzhen	Ho Chi Minh City	8 Days
Germany	Frankfurt	Hanoi	5 Days
Germany	Hamburg	Ho Chi Minh City	4 Days
Germany	Hamburg	Hanoi	5 Days
Germany	Berlin	Ho Chi Minh City	5 Days
India	Chennai	Hanoi	4 Days
India	Delhi	Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days
Indonesia	Jakarta	Hanoi	4 Days
Indonesia	Jakarta	Ho Chi Minh City	4 Days
Italy	Rome	Hanoi	4 Days
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Ho Chi Minh City	5 Days
New Zealand	Auckland	Hanoi	4 Days
New Zealand	Auckland	Ho Chi Minh City	4 Days
Oman	Muscat	Hanoi	3 Days
Portugal	Lisbon	Hanoi	4 Days
Singapore	Singapore	Hanoi	3 Days
Singapore	Singapore	Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days
Switzerland	Zurich	Ho Chi Minh City	5 Days
Switzerland	Zurich	Hanoi	5 Days
Switzerland	Basel	Hanoi	7 Days
Switzerland	Basel	Ho Chi Minh City	8 Days
Switzerland	Geneva	Ho Chi Minh City	8 Days
UAE	Dubai	Hanoi	4 Days
United Kingdom	London	Hanoi	3 Days
United Kingdom	Glasgow	Hanoi	3 Days
United Kingdom	London	Ho Chi Minh City	3 Days
USA	Dallas	Ho Chi Minh City	5 Days
USA	Los Angeles	Hanoi	5 Days
USA	Atlanta	Hanoi	5 Days
USA	Houston	Ho Chi Minh City	5 Days
USA	New York	Hanoi	7 Days
USA	New York	Ho Chi Minh City	6 Days
USA	Chicago	Ho Chi Minh City	7 Days
USA	San Francisco	Hanoi	5 Days
USA	Los Angeles	Ho Chi Minh City	8 Days
USA	San Francisco	Ho Chi Minh City	5 Days

Import Customs Clearance in Vietnam

To receive the import clearance in Vietnam, you have to follow customs regulations. These can be complex, so many businesses decide to hire an experienced freight forwarder for this task. When you engage an expert, you can avoid unnecessary delays and ensure that your freight complies with Vietnamese customs rules.

Even when using a freight forwarder, you still have to prepare and submit certain paperwork. Vietnamese customs officials will most likely ask for the following documents:

1. Commercial Invoice

2. Packing List

3. Certificate of Origin

4. Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)

5. Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight will provide this for you)

Other documents, such as certificates, permits, and licenses, might also be required to finalize customs clearance. Your freight forwarder can advise you on the precise requirements.

If you are keen on learning more about these documents and seeing some examples, take a look at our documents list.

Ship Ocean Freight to Vietnam: FCL or LCL?

When you choose ocean shipping, your goods will be loaded aboard a cargo vessel inside a standard 20ft or 40ft container. There are also options for cargo that doesn’t fit inside a standard container. Your freight forwarder or carrier can recommend specialized containers or break-bulk shipping options.

There are two ways to ship your freight in a container to Vietnam: FCL and LCL. Both options are bookable as port-to-port or door-to-door services. The best one for your logistics needs will depend on the weight, volume, and nature of your goods.

Less Than Container Load (LCL) Shipping to Vietnam

This mode of transport is likely to be best for you if:

• You are shipping relatively small consignments.
• You don’t need the cargo in Vietnam urgently.
• Your goods can be shipped alongside the cargo of other businesses in a shared container.
• Your freight is too big, or unsuitable to send as air freight.

Although LCL is often the most economical way to ship to Vietnam, it does have its downsides. As your freight will be sharing container space with others, all cargo needs to be consolidated at the port of origin.

Subsequently, the container needs to be deconsolidated at the port of arrival in Vietnam. These are essential steps in the process, which can result in slightly longer transit times compared to FCL shipping.

We recommend that you avoid LCL shipping to Vietnam if:

• Your products are fragile, perishable, or of high value.
• Excessive movement and handling might damage your goods.
• You need the cargo in Vietnam at a certain date and can’t accept any delays.
• Your freight is very large and/or extremely heavy.

Learn more about Less than Container Load on our dedicated page on LCL shipping.

Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping to Vietnam

FCL can be the right shipping option for you if:

• Your goods are needed in Vietnam by a specified date.
• Your cargo occupies at least half the capacity of a standard 20ft container (14CBM) or more.
• Your freight is delicate or very heavy.
• You prefer that your products remain sealed in a container until they reach the consignee.

Learn more about Full Container Load on our dedicated page on FCL shipping.

Cargo Ports of Arrival in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

Port Facts:

• Also known as Saigon Port.
• A buzzing network of ports situated on the Saigon river.
• Largest container port in the country and the 25th-busiest worldwide.
• Most important import and export hub for Vietnam’s main economic center.

Owned By: Saigon Newport Company.

Annual Container Volume: >6 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNSGN.

Vung Tau

Port Facts:

• Situated in the Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province in the Southeast of the country.
• Comprises several ports, including Cai Mep, Phu My, Dinh river, and Ben Dam.
• Solid alternative to Ho Chi Minh City’s busy port.

Owned By: Vung Tau Commercial Port J.S Co.

Annual Container Volume: >3 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNVUT.

Da Nang

Port Facts:

• Serves central Vietnam, as well as parts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos.
• Located on the Han River facing the South China Sea.
• Facilities include two terminals and a freight warehouse.

Owned By: Danang Port.

Annual Container Volume: >600,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNDAD.

Haiphong

Port Facts:

• Main port for importers in northern Vietnam.
• Located close to Haiphong City.
• Established in 1876.
• Expansion to a deep-water port completed to accommodate larger vessels.

Owned By: Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company.

Annual Container Volume: >1.15 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNHPH.

Qui Nhon

Port Facts:

• Located in Vietnam’s Bình Định Province.
• Best for importers in Vietnam’s central highlands and parts of Cambodia and Laos.
• Offers more than ten direct routes to international ports.

Owned By: Quy Nhon Port Joint Stock Company.

Annual Container Volume: >130,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNUIH.

Air Shipping for Your Freight to Vietnam

If speed is of the essence, then air shipping might be the best option for you. Flying your goods to Vietnam is faster and more flexible than ocean shipping. However, it is also much more expensive than sending them via sea. That’s why most shippers choose air freight only for small quantities of goods.

• You should consider air freight if any of the following apply:
• Your products have a short shelf-life.
• You need your goods to reach Vietnam urgently.
• You are only shipping a small consignment of two to three pallets.
• The recipient in Vietnam is located conveniently close to an international airport.
• Your cargo is very valuable and requires the highest levels of security.

Learn more about Air Freight on our dedicated page by clicking here.

Airports of Arrival in Vietnam

Hanoi (IATA Code: HAN)

Airport Facts:

• Officially called Noi Bai International Airport.
• Largest in Vietnam for total capacity.
• Located 45 km to the northeast of Vietnam’s capital.
• Handled over 700,000 tonnes of freight in 2017.

Ho Chi Minh City (IATA Code: SGN)

Airport Facts:

• Busiest airport in the country.
• Located six kilometers north of downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
• Processed more than 550,000 tonnes of cargo in 2017.
• A new airport with a designated cargo terminal is being planned.

Ocean and Air Shipping to Vietnam: Why Choose Shipa Freight?

We are a digital-first logistics service provider at the cutting edge of freight forwarding. With our state-of-the-art online platform, shipping cargo to Vietnam by air or sea becomes easy for businesses of all sizes. You can simply manage your entire shipping process in one place and significantly speed up your supply chain.

Benefit from the following advantages when you ship your cargo to Vietnam with us:

• Fast and easy-to-understand online quotes and booking process.
• All of your imports and exports in one place.
• Friendly customer support that’s available 24/7 via phone, email, and online chat.
• A simple, transparent approach to shipping documentation.
• Customs complexity simplified and taken care of.
• Full compliance with international shipping rules and regulations.