Vietnam Import Guide: Ports, Customs Duty & Delivery

We move freight cargo from South China into Vietnam through SGN air / Cai Mep 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 / Cai Mep 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.

Cai Mep The deep-water port serving southern Vietnam's export belt SGN air / Cai Mep sea · inland same day Qui Nhon Central-coast port for timber and mineral cargo UIH air / Qui Nhon sea · inland +1 day Ho Chi Minh City Commercial capital and largest consumer market SGN air / Cat Lai sea · inland same day Hanoi Political capital and northern business centre HAN air / Hai Phong sea · inland +1 day Hai Phong The north's main port city and industrial zone HAN air / Hai Phong sea · inland same day Da Nang Central Vietnam gateway and IT services hub DAD air / Da Nang sea · inland same day Binh Duong The country's densest industrial-park province SGN air / Cat Lai sea · inland same day Dong Nai Manufacturing province adjoining Ho Chi Minh City SGN air / Cai Mep sea · inland same day Bac Ninh Electronics assembly cluster north of Hanoi HAN air / Hai Phong sea · inland +1 day Bac Giang Fast-growing electronics and component manufacturing province HAN air / Hai Phong sea · inland +1 day Can Tho Mekong Delta commercial centre SGN air / Cat Lai sea · inland +1 day Nha Trang Coastal tourism and seafood-processing city CXR air / Cam Ranh sea · inland +1 day Hue Central heritage city with light manufacturing DAD air / Da Nang sea · inland +1 day Vung Tau Offshore energy base next to the deepwater terminals Cai Mep sea · inland same day

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 / Cai Mep 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.

Page data last reviewed: 8 月 2026.

Shipping by industry

This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.

All 139 industry guides →

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.

Request a quote → See the Vietnam route page →

Shipping from China to Vietnam