How Long Does it Take for Shipping from China to Vietnam?
By / December 7, 2025
Your delivery time will heavily influence the mode of transportation you choose for goods shipping from China to Vietnam. If you are in a hurry, air transport will be faster, generally taking 1 to 3 days to transport from China to Vietnam. However, you should still allow at least one day for your goods to arrive and clear customs.
This speed has a price. So if your deadline is not very tight, or if your budget is limited, waiting for 3 to 10 days for cargo shipping from China to Vietnam by sea is almost certainly your most economical choice.
Uniquely for this route, Cross-Border Trucking (Road Freight) offers a “middle ground” solution—faster than sea but cheaper than air—typically taking 2 to 5 days door-to-door.
1. How Long Does It Take for Cargo Shipping from China to Vietnam by Sea?
Due to the geographic proximity, sea freight transit times between China and Vietnam are very short compared to global averages. As shown in the following examples, the sea transportation between China and Vietnam typically takes 2 to 10 days:
| Origin Port | Ho Chi Minh (Cat Lai) | Haiphong | Da Nang |
| Port of Shenzhen | 3-4 days | 2-3 days | 3-4 days |
| Port of Guangzhou | 4-5 days | 3-4 days | 4-5 days |
| Port of Shanghai | 6-8 days | 4-6 days | 5-7 days |
| Port of Ningbo | 6-8 days | 5-7 days | 6-8 days |
| Port of Xiamen | 4-6 days | 3-5 days | 4-6 days |
| Port of Qingdao | 8-10 days | 6-8 days | 7-9 days |
| Port of Tianjin | 9-12 days | 7-10 days | 8-11 days |
| Port of Hong Kong | 3-4 days | 2-3 days | 3-4 days |
Specific Route Estimates:
Shekou to Ho Chi Minh – 3 days FCL, 5 days LCL
Nansha to Haiphong – 3 days FCL, 5 days LCL
Shanghai to Ho Chi Minh – 7 days FCL, 10 days LCL
Ningbo to Haiphong – 5 days FCL, 8 days LCL
Xiamen to Da Nang – 5 days FCL
Qingdao to Ho Chi Minh – 9 days FCL
Tianjin to Haiphong – 8 days FCL
Hong Kong to Haiphong – 2 days FCL
2. How Long Does It Take for Cargo Shipping from China to Vietnam by Air?
Although the flight from China to Vietnam takes only 2-4 hours, arranging the cargo transportation between the two countries involves ground handling and customs. But it is still significantly faster than sea transportation.
It takes time to transport goods by land from your chosen departure to the destination airport. The same is true for loading and unloading goods. In addition, China and Vietnam will conduct customs and security inspections. Considering all these factors, the following are some estimated shipping times:
| Origin Airport | Ho Chi Minh (SGN) | Hanoi (HAN) | Da Nang (DAD) |
| Shanghai (PVG) | 1-2 days | 2-3 days | 2-4 days |
| Guangzhou (BOLEH) | 1 day | 1-2 days | 2-3 days |
| Beijing (PEK) | 2-3 days | 2-4 days | 3-5 days |
| Shenzhen (SZX) | 1 day | 1-2 days | 2-3 days |
| Hong Kong (HKG) | 1 day | 1-2 days | 2-3 days |
Specific Route Estimates:
Shanghai Pudong to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) – 2 days
Guangzhou to Hanoi (HAN) – 1 day (Next day delivery possible)
Shenzhen to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) – 1 day
Beijing to Hanoi (HAN) – 3 days
Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) – 1 day
You may also be interested in: Cost of Shipping from China to Vietnam (2025 Guide)
Stuck between options? Let us help.
Reach out for a quick, free chat.
We don’t just quote prices; we’ll help you pick the strategy that actually works best for your specific goods.
3. Factors Affecting Shipping Time from China to Vietnam
Shipping time from China to Vietnam can vary greatly depending on several key factors. Understanding these factors can help businesses deliver goods in a timely manner.
Mode of Transportation: The choice of sea, air, or road freight plays a crucial role. Road freight (2-5 days) is a unique advantage for this route, often beating sea freight speeds.
Shipping Routes: Direct vessels from South China are much faster than those from North China. Direct flights vs. connecting flights also impact air cargo timing.
Border Congestion: For Cross-Border Trucking, congestion at key borders like Pingxiang/Lang Son can cause delays of 1-2 days, especially during peak seasons.
Customs Clearance Time: The efficiency of customs clearance at both origin and destination affects total time. Vietnam Customs can be strict with documentation (e.g., HS Codes). Clearance generally takes 1 to 2 days.
Weather conditions: Typhoons in the South China Sea can disrupt shipping plans, especially for ocean freight.
4. Cost of Shipping from China to Vietnam
The shipping cost from China to Vietnam can vary depending on the type of shipping carrier you choose, the weight and size of your cargo, and the destination. However, in general, the cost of ocean shipping is cheaper than air freight.
As of late 2025, the cheapest ocean freight from China to Vietnam will cost an average of approximately $150 to $400 for a 20-foot container, while a 40-foot container could cost between $300 and $700, depending on the factors listed above.
Estimated Container Rates (Sea Freight):
| Cost Component | 20ft Container | 40ft Container |
| Basic Freight Charges | $150 – $400 | $300 – $700 |
| Terminal Handling Charges | $100 – $200 | $150 – $300 |
| Documentation Fees | $50 – $80 | $50 – $80 |
| Insurance | 0.3% – 1% | 0.3% – 1% |
| Customs Clearance Fees | $80 – $150 | $80 – $150 |
If time is your main concern, it is recommended to give priority to air freight or cross-border trucking. For large goods or non-urgent transportation needs, sea freight can help you save costs. If you need a comprehensive logistics plan, a professional freight forwarding company like GWT Shipping can provide you with a tailor-made solution.
The time for transportation from China to Vietnam depends on the specific situation. Choosing the right mode of transportation is an important step to ensure that the goods are delivered in time.
Meet problems? Welcome to reach out us for a quick, free chat.
We don’t just quote prices; we’ll help you pick the strategy that actually works best for your specific goods.
Kesimpulan
Navigating the logistics landscape from China to Vietnam requires balancing three main factors: speed, cost, and reliability.
While Air Freight remains the champion for urgency (1-3 days), Sea Freight is the backbone of bulk trade due to its unmatched cost-efficiency (3-10 days). Uniquely, Cross-Border Trucking offers a strategic “third option” that delivers goods door-to-door in just 2-5 days at a fraction of air freight costs.
At GWT Shipping, we don’t just move boxes; we optimize your supply chain. Whether you need a fast truck from Shenzhen to Hanoi or a bulk container to Ho Chi Minh City, our team is ready to assist.
Soalan Lazim
Sea Freight: 3 to 10 days (port-to-port).
Pengangkutan Udara: 1 to 3 days (airport-to-airport).
Road Freight (Trucking): 2 to 5 days (door-to-door).
Air Freight is the fastest, typically taking 24-48 hours. However, Cross-Border Trucking from South China (e.g., Shenzhen/Guangzhou) to North Vietnam (Hanoi) can be equally fast, taking just 2 days.
Yes. Cross-border trucking is generally 30-50% cheaper than air freight while offering similar transit times for door-to-door delivery, especially for destinations in North Vietnam.
Standard documents include Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading (or Air Waybill), and Certificate of Origin (Form E is crucial for tax exemption).
Yes. We offer comprehensive DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) services via Sea, Air, and Road. We handle pickup, export, shipping, Vietnam customs clearance (including duties), and final delivery.
Yes. GWT Shipping provides real-time tracking. Whether your goods are on a ship, plane, or truck crossing the border, you will know exactly where they are.
Ready to streamline your Asia-Pacific logistics?
Contact GWT Shipping today for a free, transparent quote and let us deliver your goods from China to Vietnam safely and on time.
Thank you for reading!
Have questions, corrections, or better ideas? We’d love to hear from you!
We value every piece of feedback and promise to reply within 24 hours. Let's make this guide better together!
Note: Spam comments will not be published.