Ocean and Air Shipping from Vietnam to Brazil

FCL, LCL and Air shipping comprehensive guide and instant online quote

Effortless Shipping

Real-Time Tracking

24X7 Customer Support

Updated on 16 Sep 2021

13 min read

Trade relationships between Vietnam and Brazil have traditionally been friendly. Over the years, Vietnam has become Brazil’s most important partner within the ASEAN bloc. Two-way trade has increased from just $29 million in 2001 to $4.51 billion in 2018.

If importing from Vietnam to Brazil is on your agenda for this year, then this page is for you. We understand that international ocean and air freight shipping is complex. That’s why we are providing a little of the guidance that you need to ship freight from Vietnam to Brazil successfully.

What Are Your Options for Shipping Freight From Vietnam to Brazil?

There are just two options for moving your goods. You can choose between ocean and air shipping from Vietnam to Brazil. Both options have distinct pros and cons.

Ocean Freight From Vietnam to Brazil

Less than Container Load (LCL): Choosing LCL shipping means that your goods will occupy space in a shared container instead of traveling in a full container assigned to your business alone. Because you are only paying for the weight and dimensions that your cargo takes up, LCL is often the most economical way to import from Vietnam to Brazil.

Full Container Load (FCL): Choosing FCL means hiring an entire container for your exclusive use at a flat rate. This can be less expensive than LCL if you are shipping larger consignments.

Air Freight from Vietnam to Brazil

If reaching Brazil fast is most important to you, then flying your goods could be the best choice. However, air freight is often much more costly than sea freight.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Vietnam to Brazil?

Several factors impact the final cost of shipping your cargo from Vietnam to Brazil. Freight forwarders will consider the following aspects when issuing you with quotes:

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)

So, what is the most economical option for shipping your freight from Vietnam to Brazil? The weight of your cargo has a significant influence on the final cost. For consignments of 100 kg or less, the price of air and sea freight is about the same. You can simply opt for the option that’s more convenient for you. If your cargo weighs more than 100 kg, though, then ocean freight is usually cheaper than air freight.

You also have to consider that freight forwarders, such as Shipa Freight, won’t handle all weight brackets. Small consignments of 35 kg or less can be managed by an international courier service instead.

How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From Vietnam to Brazil?

Choosing ocean or air shipping will result in vastly different transit times for your cargo. Although there are no direct flights between Vietnam and Brazil, air freight is fast, with shipments taking only a few days, including the time required for consolidation, loading, unloading, and customs clearance. Shipping a container from Vietnam to Brazil is much slower. Crossing the Atlantic as well as the Indian Ocean via ship can take several weeks.

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

To give you an idea of the time needed to complete shipment from Vietnam to Brazil by sea, one of our routes, from Haiphong to Itapoa, takes approximately 50 days from port to port.

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

Freight forwarders can usually have air-freight shipments from Vietnam to Brazil completed in five to eight days. Transit times will be shorter for airport-to-airport services than for door-to-door services.

Customs Clearance in Vietnam and Brazil

Customs clearance is a mandatory process when you export from Vietnam to Brazil. When businesses don’t want to risk issues or delays, they engage an experienced freight forwarder or agent for the task. With a knowledgeable partner by your side, you can be sure that all formalities are completed in accordance with the existing international laws and regulations.

You are not freed from all responsibilities when you work with a freight forwarder, though. It is your duty to ensure provision of some specific documents. Usually, the customs authorities in Vietnam and Brazil will ask for the following documentation:

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)
Bill of Lading for ocean freight or Airway Bill for air freight (Shipa Freight will provide this for you)

Licenses, permits, or certificates are examples of other documents that you might have to provide upon request. Your freight forwarder should notify you immediately if this is the case. Check out our handy documents list to learn more about these documents and to see some examples.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Ocean Freight

Sea freight is the option that most shippers choose. It means that a specialized cargo vessel will carry your products in a shipping container from Vietnam to Brazil. Sometimes you might want to ship materials that won’t fit into a container. In this case, your freight forwarder or carrier can recommend alternatives, such as break-bulk shipping.

LCL and FCL are the two alternatives when it comes to containerized ocean shipping. The best option for your logistics needs will depend on the weight, volume, and nature of your freight. You can book both choices as port-to-port or door-to-door services.

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

Pros:

Usually the least expensive option when you want to transport six standard pallets or less.
The container will be stuffed and destuffed at a warehouse facility. You can simply drop-off and collect your freight.
You can accelerate your supply chain by moving goods when needed, instead of waiting to fill a container.

Cons:

Your goods will likely be handled a lot, which can damage fragile/delicate/perishable products.
The transit times are slightly longer compared to FCL because of the additional process steps.

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

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

Pros:

It’s the quickest mode of ocean shipping.
Your cargo travels isolated in a container for the entire passage.
Less expensive for larger amounts of cargo (more than 14 CBM, which is half the load capacity of a 20ft container).

Cons:

Even if you are shipping small amounts of cargo, you have to pay the full fee for the container.
Not every supplier or buyer can accommodate a full container on their premises. This might restrict your options for loading and delivery.

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

Air Freight

Pros:

Air freight offers the shortest transit times.
It’s ideal for perishable cargo with a limited shelf-life.
The risk is very low because airlines and airport operators maintain high levels of security.
It can be the most economical option for transporting a couple of pallets or less.
Air shipping is less affected by weather and therefore offers high reliability.

Cons:

Air shipping is very costly for large quantities of goods.
It is usually not a viable option for cargo that is extremely bulky or awkwardly shaped.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo Ports of Origin in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

Port Facts:

Largest port in Vietnam, also known as Saigon port.
This network of ports is situated on the Saigon river.
It’s the 25th-busiest container port worldwide.

Owned By: Saigon Newport Company.

Annual Container Volume: >6 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNSGN.

Vung Tau

Port Facts:

Located in southeast Vietnam in the Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province.
Sits just 50 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s commercial hub.
Consists of several ports, including Cai Mep, Phu My, Dinh River, and Ben Dam.

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

Annual Container Volume: >3 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNVUT.

Da Nang

Port Facts:

Located in central Vietnam on the Han River.
Faces one of the busiest sea trade areas, the South China Sea.
The endpoint of the east-west economic corridor, linking Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
Facilities include two terminals and a freight warehouse.

Owned By: Danang Port.

Annual Container Volume: >600,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNDAD.

Haiphong

Port Facts:

Serves the city of Haiphong and Vietnam’s north.
Established in 1876.
Opened a deep-water port recently 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:

Major port for the Bình Định province. Best for exporters in Vietnam’s central highlands as well as Cambodia and Laos. Offers ten direct routes to international ports.

Owned By: Quy Nhon Port Joint Stock Company.

Annual Container Volume: >130,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: VNUIH.

Cargo Ports of Arrival in Brazil

Santos

Port Facts:

Located close to Brazil’s commercial hub São Paulo.
Biggest and most modern seaport in Latin America.
Busiest container port in the entire country.
Projects are planned to improve the port’s struggling infrastructure.

Owned By: Federal Government of Brazil.

Annual Container Volume: >4 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRSSZ.

Rio Grande Do Sul

Port Facts:

Fast-growing port near the city of Porto Alegre.
Located close to the border with Uruguay.
Home to the leading container terminal in Brazil.
Capacity to handle even the largest vessels.

Annual Container Volume: >700,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRRIG.

Itajai

Port Facts:

One of Brazil’s largest container ports, although with relatively low throughput.
Critical port for imports destined for the southern states of Brazil.
Facilities include a container terminal with four berths.
Capable of receiving vessels with capacities of up to 9,000 TEUs.

Owned By: Federal Government of Brazil.

Annual Container Volume: >4 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRSSZ.

Navegantes

Port Facts:

Brazil’s second-busiest container port.
20th-busiest in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Facilities include a state-of-the-art port complex that houses a 50,000 square meter automated warehouse.

Owned By: Portonave S/A.

Annual Container Volume: >800,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRNVT.

Suape

Port Facts:

Located to the south of Recife in the state of Pernambuco.
Vital container gateway in Brazil's northeast.
Boasts a sophisticated monitoring and laser-enabled docking system.
Also serves the nearby states of Paraiba and Alagoas.

Owned By: SUAPE - Governor Eraldo Gueiros Industrial Port Complex.

Annual Container Volume: >400,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: BRSUA.

Other Ports in Brazil

In addition to the container gateways outlined above, you can also bring your ocean freight from Vietnam to the following ports:

Belem
Salvador
Manaus
Vitoria
Paranagua
Itaguai
Itapoa
Rio de Janeiro

Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide

Airports of Origin in Vietnam

Hanoi

Airport Facts:

Official name is Noi Bai International Airport.
Air freight gateway with the biggest capacity in the country.
Situated 45 km to the northeast of Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital.
Handled over 700,000 tonnes of cargo in 2017.

Brazilian Airports Served: None.

Hanoi to Brazil Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: HAN.

Ho Chi Minh City

Airport Facts:

Official name is Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Busiest airport in the country.
Situated 6 km north of Ho Chi Minh City.
Handled more than 550,000 tonnes of cargo in 2017.
Plans for a new airport with a designated cargo terminal are underway.

Brazilian Airports Served: None.

Ho Chi Minh City to Brazil Cargo-Only Operators: None.

IATA Code: HAN.