Shipping from USA to Vietnam
Ocean freight from Los Angeles, Houston and New York to Ho Chi Minh and Hai Phong, typically 28–48 days, by full container or LCL. Airlift’s own offices in the USA and Vietnam handle routing and export filing, then customs and delivery support in Vietnam.
Get a USA–Vietnam ocean freight quote
Lane Overview
Airlift ships machinery, industrial goods, consumer products and raw materials from the USA to Vietnam, a lane with growing demand. Our own teams in the U.S. and in Ho Chi Minh City manage each shipment and control the customs paperwork at both ends. Full-container shipping is the core service, with LCL on select port pairs.
Figures and capabilities on this page are based on Airlift’s operating footprint and past shipment records.
Quick Facts: USA Vietnam
Main Ports (by Service Coverage and Shipment Volume)
U.S. departure ports
Los Angeles, Houston and New York. The best choice depends on where your cargo starts.
Vietnam arrival ports
Ho Chi Minh (Cat Lai) and Hai Phong. Airlift’s Vietnam office handles the import side at both.
Transit Times by Port Pair (P10–P90 Range)
From Los Angeles
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh | 28–34 days |
| Hai Phong | 30–36 days |
From Houston
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh | 32–40 days |
| Hai Phong | 35–42 days |
From New York
| Destination port | Transit planning range |
|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh | 35–45 days |
| Hai Phong | 37–48 days |
P10–P90 means 80% of past Airlift shipments on that port pair arrived within the range. Actual times vary with the routing and the transshipment hub, such as Singapore or Port Klang.
These ranges are port to port only. The glossary explains what a quoted transit time includes and which origin and destination legs it leaves out.
Shipping machinery, plastics or consumer goods to Vietnam?
Send your cargo details and ready date, and we’ll quote your shipment.Questions about your cargo?
Tell us what you ship and how it is packed, and a specialist will contact you.What Ships on This Lane
Top 4 (by Airlift capability and shipment trends)
- Industrial machinery and parts
- Consumer goods
- Plastics and resins
- Agricultural products
We also handle
Non-hazardous chemicals, automotive components and packaging materials.
Customs and Documents
In the USA (export)
- AES export filing (Electronic Export Information) when a Schedule B line exceeds $2,500 or the goods need an export license
- Commercial invoice and packing list, always
- Export paperwork handled directly by Airlift’s U.S. office
In Vietnam (import)
- Import declaration filed through VNACCS, Vietnam’s electronic customs system
- Duties and taxes assessed by HS code
- Airlift’s Vietnam office works with customs brokers on clearance
Shipping Options
- Full container load (FCL)
- Less than container load (LCL) on select port pairs
- Door-to-port or door-to-door
- Special equipment on request
Why Ship With Airlift
- Airlift’s own offices in both the USA and Vietnam
- One point of contact at origin and at destination, with documents managed centrally
- Coverage of the main U.S. gateways and Vietnam’s main ports
- Experience with machinery, consumer goods and raw materials
- Shipment tracking on Airlift’s digital platform
Check our licenses before you ship
Each license and membership below links to the public register or directory that lists it, so you can verify who you are dealing with before you send cargo details.
- FMC OTI license 016162 — Licensed and bonded NVOCC and ocean freight forwarder, d/b/a Airlift Container Line. Look it up on the FMC OTI list →
- FMCSA property broker, USDOT 2355713 / MC-798584 — US drayage and trucking arranged as a non-asset broker through contracted motor carriers. FMCSA SAFER company snapshot →
- WCA World member since 2019 — Los Angeles head office and New Jersey branch, both with Gold Medallion financial protection. WCA member profile →
- C-TPAT certified — Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. About C-TPAT →
- NCBFAA regular member — National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. NCBFAA →
- IATA CargoLink listed — IATA-accredited air cargo agent, listed in the CargoLink directory. CargoLink listing →
What to include in your quote request
The more of this you send, the more complete the quote, and the easier it is to compare with others.
- Pickup and delivery locations, preferred ports and inland transport requirements.
- Cargo description, package count, gross weight and packed dimensions, or container size and quantity.
- Cargo-ready date, delivery deadline and handling or storage requirements.
- Which services and charges you want quoted, so every quote you compare covers the same scope.
Get a USA–Vietnam ocean freight quote
Your route is already in the notes; edit it if you need to. Then add what you are shipping, when it is ready, pickup and delivery locations, and the services you want quoted.
Tools and guides for this lane
Shipping from a country without a lane guide? See every origin, by region, on shipping to the USA by country of origin.
Frequently asked questions
Typically 28–48 days by ocean. Los Angeles to Ho Chi Minh is the fastest at 28–34 days. Houston to Ho Chi Minh takes 32–40 days, and New York to Hai Phong is the longest at 37–48 days. These ranges come from Airlift’s own shipment history, not carrier brochures: 80% of past shipments arrived within them (the P10–P90 range).
Cargo leaves from Los Angeles, Houston or New York, depending on where it starts, and arrives at Ho Chi Minh (Cat Lai) or Hai Phong. Some sailings relay through Singapore or Port Klang. At either arrival port, Airlift’s own Vietnam office handles the import declaration and delivery.
Both. Full-container (FCL) shipments move in 20′, 40′ and 40′ high-cube containers, with special equipment on request for machinery and out-of-gauge cargo. LCL, where your cargo shares a container, is available on select port pairs. Door-to-port and door-to-door service is available for both.
In the USA: a commercial invoice, a packing list and, when required, Electronic Export Information (EEI) filed in the Automated Export System (AES). EEI is required when a Schedule B line is worth more than $2,500 or the goods need an export license, and Airlift files it for you. In Vietnam: an import declaration through VNACCS, Vietnam’s electronic customs system, plus a certificate of origin where a trade agreement applies. Airlift’s own Vietnam office coordinates both.
It depends on the goods, not the freight. Vietnam sets import duty by HS code (the product classification) and charges import VAT alongside it. Airlift’s Vietnam office coordinates the declaration and the duty payment so the container can be released on arrival. Note that the tariff simulator on this site covers US imports only.
Use the rate search to compare live USA–Vietnam rates by port pair and container type. No signup is needed. If you ship on this lane regularly, our team can set up lane-level pricing for your export program.