Customs Clearance in Vietnam
Import entries into Vietnam are administered by General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan). Cargo typically sits 2–5 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Vietnam
| Customs authority | General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan) |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | VAT 8–10%; duty 0–35%, with 0% available on most tariff lines under ACFTA/RCEP with a valid Form E |
| De-minimis | VND 1,000,000 (roughly USD 40) on express parcels |
| Certification | Form E certificate of origin to claim ACFTA duty relief; MIC/Circular 04 type approval for radio equipment; energy-efficiency labelling for appliances |
| Typical port dwell | 2–5 days |
| Sea gateways | Hai Phong, Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Cai Mep–Thi Vai |
| Air gateways | SGN (Ho Chi Minh City), HAN (Hanoi), DAD (Da Nang) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Vietnam expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
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.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
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.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Vietnam
Our entries in Vietnam are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Vietnam clearance partner →Freight rates into Vietnam
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Shekou to Qui Nhon FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Ship Nansha to Qui Nhon — FCL Container Cost from China
- Ship Shekou to Da Nang — FCL Container Cost from China
- Ship Shekou to Hai Phong — FCL Container Cost from China
- Ship Yantian to Cai Mep — FCL Container Cost from China
- Shipping a Container from Nansha to Cai Mep: Cost & Transit
- Shipping a Container from Nansha to Da Nang: Cost & Transit
- Shipping a Container from Nansha to Hai Phong: Cost & Transit
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Vietnam — the background this clearance page assumes.
Vietnam destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Vietnam?
Import entries are administered by General Department of Vietnam Customs (Tổng cục Hải quan).
How long does clearance take in Vietnam?
Cargo typically sits 2–5 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Vietnam?
VAT 8–10%; duty 0–35%, with 0% available on most tariff lines under ACFTA/RCEP with a valid Form E The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Vietnam that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Vietnam?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.