Shipping from Vietnam to the USA
For U.S. importers bringing furniture, home goods, apparel, footwear or electronics from Vietnam to Los Angeles and Long Beach. This page covers the routes, the shipping options, what drives your cost, and how a shipment moves from factory to warehouse. We coordinate every shipment through licensed forwarding partners, with one point of contact the whole way.
Route Snapshot
| Origin ports | Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai, Cai Mep–Thi Vai), Hai Phong, Da Nang |
| Destination | Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach; LAX for air freight |
| Shipping modes | Full container (FCL), shared container (LCL), air freight |
| Typical ocean transit | About 22–24 days port to port from Ho Chi Minh City |
| Typical air transit | About 8–13 days door to door |
| Rates | Rates change weekly. Ask for today’s rate and we’ll send an itemized quote. |
Shipping by Product
Each product type has its own packing, labeling and paperwork rules. These are the ones that catch importers out most often.
Furniture
Wood crates and pallets must be heat-treated or fumigated and carry the ISPM 15 mark (USDA APHIS wood packaging rules (ISPM 15)). Bulky pieces usually fill a container by volume long before weight, so container size matters. Some furniture faces added U.S. tariffs, so confirm your HTS code early. See shipping furniture from Vietnam to Los Angeles.
Home goods
Mixed products from several suppliers often ship together in one container or as LCL. Ask each supplier for an accurate packing list with carton counts, weights and dimensions so the shipment can be booked at the right size.
Apparel and footwear
Most clothing and textile products need labels showing fiber content, country of origin and the responsible company (FTC clothing and textile labeling). Fix labels at the factory: relabeling in the U.S. costs time and money.
Electronics
Products with lithium batteries are regulated as hazardous materials and have extra packing, labeling and documentation rules, especially by air (PHMSA lithium battery rules). Tell us early if your product has a battery.
Fast-moving or seasonal goods
Samples, launches and urgent restocks often go by air to LAX; larger, steady orders usually go by ocean. Many importers split a shipment: a small air portion to cover the gap, the rest by sea.
Not sure where yours fits?
Send us the product, origin city and rough volume. We’ll tell you the best mode and what paperwork your supplier should prepare. Get a quote
Shipping by Port
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam’s largest export hub, serving factories in Binh Duong and Dong Nai. Cargo leaves from Cat Lai on the Saigon River or the deep-water Cai Mep–Thi Vai terminals. Ho Chi Minh City to Los Angeles →
Hai Phong
Northern Vietnam’s main port, close to manufacturing in Hanoi and the Red River Delta. Larger ships call at the Lach Huyen terminal. Hai Phong to Los Angeles →
Da Nang
Central Vietnam’s port, used by factories in Da Nang, Quang Nam and nearby provinces. Many U.S.-bound containers connect through a larger hub port. Ask us about sailings for your factory’s location.
Choose Your Shipping Mode
| Mode | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Full container (FCL) | Shipments that fill most of a 20′ or 40′ container | You pay for the whole box, so it is usually the lowest cost per unit for larger orders. |
| Shared container (LCL) | A few pallets or cartons | Priced by volume and weight. Adds a few days for consolidation in Vietnam and unloading in LA. |
| Air freight to LAX | Urgent, high-value or lightweight goods | Fastest option; priced by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. Air freight to LAX → |
What Affects Your Cost
We don’t publish rates because they change every week. Every quote is built from the same parts:
- Ocean or air freight, the main transport charge
- Fuel (bunker) surcharge, which moves with fuel prices
- Origin and destination port and terminal fees
- Customs brokerage and the ISF filing (CBP Importer Security Filing)
- Duties, based on your product’s HTS code (USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule)
- Trucking (drayage) from the port to your warehouse
What moves the price: the season (peak demand in Q3–Q4 and before Tet / Lunar New Year), FCL vs. LCL, container size, weight vs. volume, and port congestion. For the current market trend on Asia to U.S. West Coast containers, see the Drewry World Container Index or the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX01, East Asia to US West Coast).
For a full breakdown, see the Shipping Cost Guide.
How a Shipment Works
1
Quote and booking
You share the product, origin and ready date. We send an itemized quote and book space.
2
Pickup and export
Our partners collect from your factory and clear export customs in Vietnam.
3
Ocean or air
Your cargo sails or flies to LA. ISF is filed before loading; we track it and flag delays.
4
Customs and delivery
A licensed customs broker clears your entry, and your goods are trucked to your door.
Documents You’ll Need
- Commercial invoice: seller, buyer, product descriptions, values and Incoterms
- Packing list: cartons, weights and dimensions
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- ISF (10+2) data, filed at least 24 hours before ocean cargo is loaded in Vietnam (CBP Importer Security Filing)
- Product-specific papers: for example ISPM 15–marked wood packaging or lithium battery documentation
Step-by-step help: How to Import from Vietnam to the US.
Common Questions
Do you publish freight rates?
No. Rates change weekly, so we send a current, itemized quote instead. Get today’s rate.
Which U.S. ports do you deliver to?
Ocean freight arrives at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and air freight at LAX. We then truck to your warehouse.
Do I need a customs broker?
Commercial imports are cleared through a licensed customs broker. We arrange this through our partners as part of your shipment.
How do I know my duty rate?
Duty depends on your product’s HTS classification and origin. Look it up in the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule and confirm it with a licensed customs broker before you order.
Is shipping from Vietnam slower than from China?
Usually a little. See our comparison: Vietnam vs. China shipping to LA.
Guides for Importers
Ready to ship from Vietnam?
Tell us what you’re shipping and get an itemized quote, usually within a few hours on business days.
