Cost of Shipping from China to Vietnam: The Complete 2025 Guide
By / December 6, 2025
How much does it cost to ship from China to Vietnam? With the rapid growth of cross-border trade between these two neighboring manufacturing giants, understanding the logistics costs is crucial for importers. Whether you are shipping raw materials, machinery, or e-commerce goods, the route from China to Vietnam offers multiple transport options—Sea, Air, and Cross-Border Trucking—each with distinct cost structures.
As a leading freight forwarder specializing in the China-Southeast Asia lane, GWT Shipping aims to make importing easier and more transparent. In this guide, we delve into the factors influencing shipping rates, provide detailed cost estimates for late 2025, and help you choose the most economical method for your business.
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1. How to Ship from China to Vietnam?
Shipping from China to Vietnam is unique because the two countries share a land border, offering more flexibility than other international routes. You generally have three main options:
Sea Freight: Best for bulk cargo (containers) to ports like Ho Chi Minh (Cat Lai) or Haiphong.
Vận tải hàng không: Ideal for urgent, high-value goods.
Cross-Border Trucking (Road Freight): A popular middle-ground offering faster speeds than sea and lower costs than air, especially for door-to-door delivery.
The choice depends on your timeline, budget, and cargo type.
2. Cost of Shipping from China to Vietnam (Updated December 2025)
One of the primary determinants of shipping costs is the mode of transportation and the specific “port pair” (e.g., Shenzhen to Haiphong is cheaper than Shanghai to Ho Chi Minh). Below is a general overview of current market rates.
| Phương thức vận chuyển | Estimated Cost (USD) | Tốt nhất cho |
| Sea Freight (20ft Container) | $150 – $400 | Bulk shipments > 15 CBM |
| Sea Freight (40ft Container) | $300 – $700 | Large commercial orders |
| Vận tải đường biển (LCL) | $10 – $40 per CBM | Small shipments < 15 CBM |
| Vận tải hàng không | $1.50 – $3.50 per kg | Urgent / High-value goods |
| Cross-Border Trucking | $0.80 – $2.00 per kg | Faster than sea, cheaper than air |
| DDP Door-to-Door (Sea/Road) | $80 – $150 per CBM | All-inclusive (Tax + Delivery) |
Sea Freight Cost from China to Vietnam
Sea freight is the most economical method for large volumes. Vietnam has major ports in the North (Haiphong) and South (Ho Chi Minh City).
Cost of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Containers (FCL)
The cost varies significantly by origin. South China ports (Shekou, Nansha) are very close to Vietnam, resulting in lower rates.
| Origin Port | Điểm đến | 20ft Container Cost (Est.) | 40ft Container Cost (Est.) |
| Shenzhen (Shekou) | Ho Chi Minh (Cat Lai) | $150 – $250 | $300 – $500 |
| Shenzhen (Shekou) | Haiphong | $100 – $200 | $250 – $400 |
| Guangzhou (Nansha) | Ho Chi Minh | $180 – $280 | $320 – $550 |
| Thượng Hải | Ho Chi Minh | $250 – $400 | $450 – $700 |
| Ninh Ba | Haiphong | $220 – $380 | $400 – $650 |
| Thanh Đảo | Ho Chi Minh | $300 – $500 | $550 – $850 |
| Hạ Môn | Haiphong | $180 – $300 | $350 – $600 |
Note: Rates are indicative port-to-port costs and fluctuate weekly based on fuel surcharges (BAF) and seasonal demand.
LCL Shipping Cost
Cost: Approx. $10 – $40 per CBM.
Note: While ocean freight for LCL is cheap, be aware of destination port charges in Vietnam, which can be higher for LCL shipments.
Air Freight Cost from China to Vietnam
Air freight is the fastest option, taking only 1-3 days. Rates are calculated per kilogram based on chargeable weight.
Estimated Air Freight Rates:
+100 kg: $1.80 – $2.50 per kg
+300 kg: $1.60 – $2.20 per kg
+500 kg: $1.40 – $2.00 per kg
+1000 kg: $1.20 – $1.80 per kg
Main Routes: Shanghai (PVG) / Guangzhou (CAN) / Shenzhen (SZX) -> Ho Chi Minh (SGN) / Hanoi (HAN).
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Reach out for a quick, free chat.
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Cross-Border Trucking: The Strategic Alternative
For shipments that are too expensive for air but need to be faster than sea, Road Freight is the perfect solution.
Route: Trucks cross the border at Pingxiang (Guangxi) into Vietnam (Lang Son).
Time: 2-4 days (Door to Door).
Cost: Generally 30-50% cheaper than air freight.
Ideal for: E-commerce goods, factory components, and project cargo in North Vietnam.
DDP Door to Door Shipping from China to Vietnam
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is the most convenient option. GWT Shipping handles everything: pickup, export declaration, shipping, Vietnam customs clearance (including duties/VAT), and final delivery.
Cost: Quoted as an “All-in” price (e.g., per CBM or per KG).
Advantage: No hidden fees at the destination. You don’t need a Vietnam import license.
Estimated DDP Rates:
By Sea: $80 – $150 / CBM
By Road: $1.00 – $2.50 / KG
3. Shipping Time from China to Vietnam
| Cách thức | Origin | Điểm đến | Thời gian vận chuyển |
| Sea Freight | Thâm Quyến | Haiphong | 2 – 3 Days |
| Sea Freight | Thượng Hải | Ho Chi Minh | 6 – 9 Days |
| Vận tải hàng không | Any Major Airport | SGN / HAN | 1 – 3 Days |
| Road Freight | South China | Hanoi | 1 – 2 Days |
| Road Freight | South China | Ho Chi Minh | 3 – 5 Days |
4. Factors Affecting Shipping Costs
Fuel Surcharges: Fluctuations in oil prices affect sea and air rates.
Seasonality: Rates spike before Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and during the peak season (Sept-Dec).
Customs Duties: Vietnam’s import duties vary by HS Code. However, using Form E (Certificate of Origin under ACFTA) can reduce duties to 0% for many Chinese products.
Exchange Rates: Currency fluctuations between CNY, USD, and VND.
5. Why Choose GWT Shipping?
GWT Shipping has over 6 years of specialized experience in the China-Vietnam trade lane.
Local Presence: We have warehouses in Shenzhen and Dongguan to consolidate your cargo.
Customs Expertise: We are experts in Form E applications to help you save on taxes.
Flexible Options: We offer Sea, Air, and Cross-Border Trucking solutions to fit your budget.
Transparent Pricing: No hidden costs. What we quote is what you pay.
Let’s see if we are a good fit.
Send us your cargo details. We’ll reply with a tailored plan and a transparent quote within 2 hours.
Phần kết luận
Shipping from China to Vietnam offers a variety of cost-effective options, from ultra-cheap sea freight to fast and flexible cross-border trucking. The key to minimizing costs lies in choosing the right mode for your volume and timeline, and leveraging trade agreements like Form E to reduce taxes.
At GWT Shipping, we don’t just move cargo; we optimize your supply chain. Whether you need a quick truck delivery to Hanoi or a bulk container to Ho Chi Minh City, our team ensures your goods arrive safely and on budget.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
For large volumes (>15 CBM), FCL Sea Freight is the cheapest. For smaller shipments (>100kg but <15 CBM), LCL Sea Freight or Cross-Border Trucking are economical. For very small parcels (<20kg), standard couriers may be best.
Sea Freight: 2-9 days (depending on port).
Road Freight: 2-5 days door-to-door.
Vận tải hàng không: 1-3 days.
Yes, most imports are subject to VAT (usually 8-10%) and import duties. However, if you provide a valid Form E (Certificate of Origin), many goods from China can enjoy 0% import duty under the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. GWT can apply for this on your behalf.
It is a land transport service where trucks drive directly from China to Vietnam. It is faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight, making it a popular choice for door-to-door delivery.
Yes. We offer DDP services where we handle all customs clearance procedures and duty payments in Vietnam, ensuring smooth delivery to your door.
Yes. We can collect goods from your different suppliers in China, store them in our Shenzhen warehouse, and combine them into one shipment to save you shipping costs.
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