Asia
Container Shipping from the UK to Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City and Haiphong cover the south and north respectively — a fast-growing manufacturing lane with frequent sailings.
Container shipping from the UK to Vietnam runs full container load to Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) (VNSGN) and Haiphong (VNHPH). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Vietnam at present. Sea transit is 28–35 days port to port and air freight 2–4 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Vietnam are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in Vietnam
Full container load and groupage both go to Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) and Haiphong. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) or Haiphong
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Felixstowe.
Less than container load
There is no scheduled groupage service to Vietnam at present. Smaller consignments are quoted case by case — tell us the volume and we will say which option is genuinely cheaper.
Get a price for Vietnam
The three modes are quoted separately — they are priced on different things entirely: a container, a cubic metre and a kilo.
Indicative pricing
Starting points for sea freight from the UK, not port-specific figures — the rate for your shipment depends on the arrival port, the sailing and the commodity. Customs charges, duty and taxes in Vietnam are payable there and are not included.
| Service | From | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| FCL — 20ft General Purpose | £1,720.00 | per 20ft container |
| FCL — 40ft General Purpose | £2,780.00 | per 40ft container |
| LCL groupage | £92.00 | per cubic metre |
| Air freight | Please check with our team | per 100kg chargeable weight |
These are starting prices for the freight, not shipment totals. A groupage rate is what one cubic metre of cargo costs, so a 10 cubic metre consignment costs roughly ten times the figure shown. Figures are indicative, in GBP, and cover the sea freight from the UK only — customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included. Your firm quote depends on the exact route, the cargo and the sailing.
What can you ship to Vietnam?
Textile and footwear machinery, electronics manufacturing equipment, industrial spares, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and packaged chemicals move through Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City.
Cargo needs to be palletised, shrink-wrapped and labelled with the consignee, because groupage is handled several times between your loading bay and the delivery address. Anything containing lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, solvents or compressed gas needs declaring at booking — it usually still travels, it just changes the packing and the paperwork rather than simply the price.
What tax and duty applies on import into Vietnam?
Vietnam charges VAT at a standard rate of 10%, charged on the customs value plus duty plus any special consumption tax. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0% under the UK–Vietnam agreement, otherwise 0–20%, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
The UK–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) is progressively removing tariffs on UK-origin goods, and a self-certified origin declaration on the invoice is what claims it — there is no separate certificate to obtain. Clearance runs through the VNACCS system, and Vietnamese customs pay unusually close attention to declared value, so an invoice that looks low against comparable goods will be queried.
What are the import restrictions in Vietnam?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into Vietnam?
These cover the far end of the journey and belong to your consignee. We prepare and file the transport and commercial paperwork, but their own registrations are issued to them by their own authorities and cannot be obtained on their behalf.
What documents do you need in the UK to export?
A second, separate set of paperwork — and this one is yours rather than your consignee's. It is the part first-time exporters are most often caught by, because the destination requirements get all the attention and the British side looks like a formality until it stops a booking.
Duty depends on the commodity code of the specific goods, and rates change. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included in our freight quote. Rates last reviewed .
Shipping to Vietnam: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to Vietnam take?
Sea freight runs about 28–35 days port to port, and air freight 2–4 days airport to airport. Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 28 days. These are indicative figures measured port to port; the transit for your exact collection address and delivery address, including the inland legs at both ends, is confirmed at quote stage.
Which ports do you ship to in Vietnam?
We move cargo through 2 ports in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) (VNSGN), Haiphong (VNHPH). Full container load goes to Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) and Haiphong. We have no scheduled groupage service to Vietnam at present, so part loads are quoted case by case. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.
Do you handle customs clearance for Vietnam?
We handle the UK side: we file your export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI number and raise the transport and commercial documents that travel with the shipment. Customs charges in Vietnam — duty, import tax and any local clearance fees — are payable there by the consignee and are not included in our rates, unless you have agreed a DDP Incoterm that puts them on you. Budget for them separately; they are the most common reason a landed cost comes in above the freight quote.
What should I know before shipping on the Vietnam lane?
Much of the cargo on this lane is consigned to industrial parks rather than to a city address, and those parks have their own gate procedures and hours. Confirming the delivery site's requirements early avoids a container sitting outside overnight. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes production machinery and tooling, textile and footwear inputs, electronic components and assemblies.
Compare lanes
Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near Vietnam — each one works as an origin or a destination.
China
Import & export · Shanghai
LCL from
£95.00
per cubic metre
32+ days
View lane
Singapore
Import & export · Singapore
LCL from
£90.00
per cubic metre
26+ days
View lane
India
Import & export · Nhava Sheva (JNPT)
LCL from
£72.00
per cubic metre
22+ days
View lanePlan the rest of the move
Shipping to Vietnam? Get a quote.
Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.