As China’s trade relations with Southeast Asian countries continue to deepen, Vietnam has become one of China’s important export markets. Thanks to advantages such as geographical proximity, industrial complementarity, and policy support, the demand for logistics and transportation between China and Vietnam continues to grow. This article will provide a detailed introduction to shipping from China to Vietnam.
Learn more: Shipping from China to the Philippines
China-Vietnam Trade Relations
In recent years, Vietnam has gradually emerged as one of the “world’s factories”, with its manufacturing industry expanding and its dependence on China’s intermediate products, raw materials and equipment increasing. China’s mature supply chain and manufacturing capabilities can provide Vietnam with high-quality, cost-effective goods in a stable and fast manner.
Vietnam’s local manufacturing industry is booming and relies on Chinese goods in many key areas, including:
- Mechanical equipment and industrial parts (required for processing plant upgrades and automation)
- Electronic components and communication equipment (providing raw materials for mobile phones, home appliances and computer assembly)
- Textile raw materials and accessories (Vietnam’s export clothing relies on Chinese-made fabrics and dyes)
- Building materials and furniture raw materials (meet urbanization and real estate needs)
- Daily consumer goods (popular due to price and variety advantages)
How to Ship from China to Vietnam
Handling international freight is a complex process. It involves not only coordinating the actual shipment, but also getting the shipment through customs in both China and Vietnam while ensuring your company complies with all regulations and does not violate any restrictions. This requires background knowledge, experience, and the ability to stay up to date with industry changes. Therefore, choosing the right freight forwarder for your company is crucial. Before you prepare to export goods from China to Vietnam, be sure to consider the following:
- Customs regulations of both countries
- Import and export policies and restrictions of each country
- Shipping documents
- Suitable mode of transport for transporting goods
- Appropriate shipping routes for the selected mode of transport
In addition, it is necessary to reasonably arrange the delivery time in combination with factors such as Vietnamese holidays and busy port periods to avoid transportation delays caused by port congestion or customs clearance delays, so as to deal with logistics problems and avoid potential pitfalls.
Sea Freight from China to Vietnam
Sea freight is the most common mode of transport from China to Vietnam, mainly because of its flexibility and reliability. Air freight has some restrictions on the types of items that can be transported, but almost all items can be transported by sea, including very large and heavy items (such as cars). The main disadvantage of sea freight is the time constraints. While other modes of transport can deliver in just a few days, sea freight can take weeks. Goods usually take 3-6 days to reach their destination, depending on the type of goods and the specific departure and arrival ports.
Sea freight, like rail freight, uses a full container and less than container container transportation system. Since the prices of full container and less than container container are different, please consider the container size when selecting the size of the shipment and inquiring. We can assist you with commercial invoicing, customs clearance, and insurance.
Road Freight from China to Vietnam
Road transport is one of the most popular modes of transport from China to Vietnam. We usually use trucks to deliver your goods to your destination in Vietnam. Trucking from China to Vietnam is a long process, and with this mode of transportation, your goods will arrive at your destination in Vietnam in about 4-7 days.
The length of the truck transportation depends on the distance between the various cities in China and Vietnam. Road transport cannot transport heavy products like sea transport can. So if your product is too heavy, it cannot be transported by road. Since China and Vietnam are located in the same region, road transport can be used.
Road transport is not very good for transporting heavy items because it is a long process, there is less risk of product damage, and the documentation costs are lower.
Air Freight from China to Vietnam
The biggest advantage of air freight is speed. Goods from China can arrive in Vietnam in 1-2 days. This is the best option for high-value goods because they have a shorter transit time. However, this speed also has some disadvantages.
Air freight is generally more expensive than sea freight. Air freight is also better for small items because airlines have weight and volume restrictions. Air freight also consumes more fuel than other methods, so if you and your company’s ethics are concerned about carbon footprint issues, then sea freight is a good choice.
Air freight usually only involves delivering goods to a Vietnamese airport, not the final destination of the inventory. Additional transportation arrangements must be made to get your goods to the final destination. Door-to-door delivery allows for arrangements to deliver the goods from the airport to the final destination and handle customs clearance in Vietnam.
Shipping Cost from China to Vietnam
The cost of shipping from China to Vietnam depends on the mode of transportation and varies by the following factors:
- Cargo type: heavy cargo, dangerous goods, etc. have high surcharges
- Cargo volume/weight: Ocean freight is charged by container, and air freight is calculated by actual weight or volume weight.
- Fuel price: affects the cost of land and sea transportation.
- Is it DDP/DDU service: whether it includes taxes, customs clearance and delivery fees
- Season and holidays: Prices generally rise during peak seasons
| Shipping Method | Shipping From China to Vietnam (Cost) |
|---|---|
| Sea Freight (20ft Container) | Approx. $550 for a 20ft container |
| Sea Freight (40ft Container) | Approx. $1,050 for a 40ft container |
| Sea Freight (LCL) | Approx. $50 per cubic meters (m3) |
| Land Freight | Approx. $0.5–$1.2/kg |
| Air Freight | Approx. $300 for 100kg |
| Door to Door Shipping | Air Freight $4 to $8 per kgs Sea Freight $80 – $200 per m3 |
| DDP Air Freight | Approx. $4 to $8 per kgs |
| DDP Sea Freight | Approx. $80 to $250 per cbm (m3) |
| Express Shipping | Approx. $8 per Kgs |
Read below for shipping costs to other countries to help you understand more:
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to Malaysia
How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to the Philippines
Shipping Time from China to Vietnam
The time required to transport goods from China to Vietnam depends on factors such as the mode of transportation, route, and customs clearance efficiency.
Land transportation is suitable for Guangzhou, Nanning, Kunming, etc. to northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Lao Cai, etc.), usually takes 3-5 days, and sea transportation is suitable for bulk goods; the cost is low but the time is slightly longer; the common ports are Haiphong Port and Ho Chi Minh Port, Usually takes 7–10 days; air transportation is the fastest; suitable for high-value and urgently needed items, direct flights to Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi usually take 1-3 days.
| Departure | Destination | Mode of transport | Time of transport | Applicable cargo type |
| China | Vietnam | Land Freight | 4-7 days | General trade cargo, small batches |
| China | Vietnam | Air Freight | 1–3 days | Container, large batches of cargo |
| China | Vietnam | Sea Freight | 7–10 days | High value, urgent transport |
Learn more about shipping times to other regions:
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to the Philippines
How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Thailand
DDP Shipping from China to Vietnam
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) transportation means that the seller bears all costs and risks, transports the goods to the buyer’s designated location, and completes the customs clearance and tax payment procedures in the destination country. Buyers do not need to bear complicated procedures such as import tariffs, value-added tax, customs clearance, etc.
Advantages of DDP
- Worry-free: Buyers do not need to deal with complicated customs clearance and tax declaration processes
- Clear costs: One price, including all costs
- Fast customs clearance: Sellers are familiar with the process and can usually speed up customs clearance
- Suitable for buyers without import and export qualifications: Buyers do not need to provide documents such as Vietnamese import qualifications
Precautions
- Whether the goods are compliant: It is necessary to ensure that the goods shipped are not restricted or prohibited from import in Vietnam
- Transportation time planning: Different transportation methods have different time limits, so they should be arranged in advance
- Declare the value truthfully: Underreporting may result in customs clearance failure or fines
- Packaging and labeling compliance: Some products require Vietnamese labels or instructions
DDP Shipping Process from China to Vietnam
Product selection and ordering
Buyers determine the product and sign a DDP transportation agreement with Chinese suppliers. The supplier is responsible for all transportation and customs clearance matters
The seller/freight forwarder prepares to ship
The goods are packed and shipped out. Provide export documents: invoices, packing lists, contracts, etc., and entrust a freight forwarder with customs clearance capabilities between China and Vietnam to operate.
Domestic pickup and export customs declaration
The goods are collected from the factory or market and transported to the export port warehouse. The export customs declaration is completed by the seller or freight forwarder.
International transportation
- Land Freight: Enter Vietnam through Pingxiang, Youyiguan Port, etc.
- Sea Freight: Depart from Chinese ports and transport to Vietnamese ports
- Air Freight: Depart from Chinese airports to Vietnamese airports
Vietnam import customs clearance
Use a local customs clearance company or agent to submit Vietnam import customs declaration information (usually the freight forwarder’s own company agent), and the freight forwarder pays the import tariff and VAT (already included in the DDP price)
Local delivery
Transfer by Vietnamese express, truck or warehouse, the buyer does not need to operate, and delivers to the buyer’s designated address (factory, warehouse, store, etc.)
Ubestshipping Freight Forwarder from China to Vietnam
Role of Freight Forwarders in the Shipping Process
Furthermore, freight forwarders play a vital role in realizing international shipping opportunities from China to Vietnam. , ensuring that goods are transported smoothly across borders. The main services provided by freight forwarders include:
- Document handling: Ensuring that all shipping documents required for shipment are prepared and attached is very important to avoid any kind of delays and legal disputes.
- Customs clearance: Although many carriers and shippers are still unaware of the legality of customs regulations to clear goods more efficiently
- Cargo tracking: Providing information about the location of goods in transit allows shippers to track the progress of goods in real time.
These services are essential to reduce the burden on shippers, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of transportation systems, and promote cross-border trade.
Choose the right freight forwarder to meet your needs
Choosing the right freight forwarder is essential to properly arrange transportation from China to Vietnam. Recommends considering the following factors:
- Experience with the China-Vietnam trade route: It is very important to have a freight forwarder who understands the local dynamics and the characteristics of the route involved.
- Network and partnership: Third-party logistics providers with more resources in China and Vietnam tend to be able to concentrate more transportation options and transportation flexibility.
- Service content: Cargo insurance, warehousing and consolidation are one of the main advantages of comprehensive services.
- Customer service reputation: Standard customer relations guarantee effective handling of any problems that may arise during transportation.
Determining the ability of freight forwarders to handle the various characteristics of overseas transportation requires analyzing their work capabilities, evaluations and status records. In cross-border freight transportation management, choosing the right partner is crucial and directly affects the success of supply logistics, making it a key factor in business success.
Through this article, you can transport goods from China to Vietnam efficiently and safely, choose an experienced freight forwarding company that understands the China-Vietnam trade ecosystem, save time and costs, reduce risks, and achieve sustainable growth of cross-border business.