Shipping to Vietnam From the US

Customers in Vietnam, the 28th largest market in the world for ecommerce, love to shop online. Customers in the Vietnam market purchase everything from electronic goods to fashion and furniture through online stores.

If you are looking to expand your retail presence in Vietnam, now is a great time to do so.

And armed with the right logistics partner and the right resources for international selling, it’s possible to serve customers in Vietnam affordably, especially if you partner with a 3PL like ShipBob. 

This guide provides information on how to ship a package from the US to Vietnam, plus tips on how ecommerce brands can better plan international shipping logistics with ShipBob.

Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Vietnam from the US

Depending on your shipping budget and how soon you need the order to be delivered, here are the popular services offered by the top four international carriers.

To optimize your shipping strategy, it is also essential to be aware of the many shipping options available from US carriers. USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx are all top carriers that make for reliable choices.

The following rates have been calculated using each carrier’s unique pricing calculators for a standard example of a 2.2 lbs package in February 2022. Actual prices are subject to change. 

Note: These are general options for consumers’ shipping orders. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Vietnam, please request a quote here.

ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in “total fulfillment cost“ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.

ServicePrice*Delivery TimeUSPSPriority Mail Express International

$86.05

3-5 business days

USPS

Priority Mail International

$66.95

11-21 business days

UPS

Worldwide Saver

$188.98

3-4 business days

UPS

Worldwide Expedited

$172.46

2-5 business days

DHL

One-Time Shipment

$181.60

6-10 business days

FedExInternational Priority

221.23

1-3 business days

*It is important to mention that USPS offers flat-rate shipping to Vietnam range from $42.15 to $110.40 for delivery within 6 to 10 days.

How to choose a shipping carrier

Each shipping carrier is different from the next. Some are speedy, others offer reliable tracking service and still, others have affordability as their USP.

Picking the right shipping carrier for your orders can make a huge difference to the customer experience and business bottom line.

Carriers

Pros

Cons

USPS

• Has a large number of drop-off facilities across the US

• Allows you to send heavy shipments affordably with flat-rate shipping services

• Enjoy free parcel pickup service

• No additional fees and surcharges

• Tracking and fulfillment isn’t as reliable as competition

• Many customers complain of slower delivery

FedEx

• Simplifies order management with real-time order tracking

• Offers free access to customer care agents to address shipping concerns

• Offers free shipping

• No free parcel pick-up 

• Fewer offices across the US makes it difficult to drop off parcels

UPS

• For reliable and free last-mile tracking UPS is a great option

• Offers free customs support to fast-track fulfillment of cross-border orders 

• Secures shipments with insurance

• More expensive as compared to USPS as the carrier charges higher shipping tariff and additional pickup fees and surcharges

DHL

• Good for businesses that wish to ship orders sustainably 

• Insures international shipments 

• No pickup fees levied

• Limited presence in the US makes parcel drop-offs inconvenient

• High shipping costs and surcharges as compared to USPS

Shipping to Vietnam from the US with USPS

Over 46% of the world’s mail is sent by the United States Postal Service (USPS). That’s the sort of trust that the carrier inspires for domestic and international shipping.

No matter how heavy or large the package, USPS offers the best rates to ship orders to Vietnam.

When to use USPS to ship from the US to Vietnam

USPS is the carrier to choose if you wish to send orders from the US to Vietnam at the lowest rates.

Especially if you have heavy shipments, its flat-rate solution ensures that for a particular parcel dimension, the rates remain the same – no matter what the weight. 

But, be mindful of the fact that customers of USPS often complain about delivery delays and poor parcel tracking features.

Shipping to Vietnam from the US with UPS

UPS with its heritage of over 115 years is a leading global carrier. It has a strong presence across 220+ countries and is the world’s largest customs broker. 

UPS’s 24/7 international customer helpline, free customs support, and timely delivery are all reasons to trust it with your shipments to Vietnam.

When to use UPS to ship from the US to Vietnam

If convenience and reliability are at the crux of your shipping strategy then UPS is the carrier for you. It has many nationwide drop-off locations and an accurate tracking service.

Also, they will offer support in dealing with the customs authorities in Vietnam to ensure faster order fulfillment.

Shipping to Vietnam from the US with FedEx

FedEx offers a wide footprint across the US. Of the 220 countries it ships to internationally, Vietnam is also one. 

There are helpful options provided by FedEx such as the International Shipping Assist tool, which simplifies shipping needs for businesses that engage regularly.

When to use FedEx to ship from the US to Vietnam

While FedEx can sometimes be a more expensive option for shipping your orders, it more than makes up for the premium rate by delivering packages reliably and on time.

That’s not all, the carrier can be depended upon to offer real-time tracking of shipment so that you and your customers always know where the order is at.

Shipping to Vietnam from the US with DHL

With a strong group network, DHL makes it reliable to ship internationally to over 220 countries including Vietnam. Its US presence is not matched with other carriers but it still is a trusted leader in logistics across the globe.

This German carrier is also committed to green logistics and is environmentally conscious.

When to use DHL to ship from the US to Vietnam

If your ecommerce business really cares about the environment and you wish to reduce the carbon footprint of your orders then choose DHL.

This reliable carrier is working towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Duties & taxes when shipping to Vietnam from the US

To ship goods of value greater than $44 (VND 1000000), you need to pay value added tax (VAT) of 10%. Aside from that, you are also liable to pay duty to the Vietnamese customs authority. 

The customs duty, which is levied on the total of the shipping cost and declared value of an item, varies based on the goods that are being imported.

Custom Duty % Description 30%Fashion0%Computers and laptops25%Home appliances20%Toys

Vietnam customs information

If you have a trading company and trading license you can import goods into Vietnam. Once it reaches the country’s borders, it is subject to stringent customs clearance standards.

You will also need to submit documents such as a business registration certificate, bill of lading, commercial invoice, and import/export business code registration certificate. 

To find out more about the customs procedure, here is a link to the country’s customs department website.

Prohibited items when shipping to Vietnam

Much before you decide to import orders to Vietnam, you need to make sure that your merchandise does not fall under the country’s list of prohibited or banned goods.

Some goods require retailers to secure additional permits from the government from importing into the country. 

Here are a bunch of global and country-specific restricted items that you must be aware of:

Items you can’t ship to Vietnam from the US

Alcoholic beverages

Cologne and perfume

Coffee

Newspapers 

Corrosives 

Tobacco

Ammunition

What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Vietnam

It is the perfect time to sell to overseas customers in Vietnam. After all, the number of users in the nation’s ecommerce market is expected to reach 70 million by 2025.

To make a successful debut in this South-East Asian country, here are some tips for ecommerce businesses to keep in mind:

1. Offer multiple payment options

For the longest time, Vietnam used to be a cash-based society. But today, bank transfers, cards, and e-wallets are being used more often for online transactions. Though the share of wallet for COD sales has reduced, it is still quite a popular payment option. 

All these factors considered, to make it easy for customers to make their purchases, your ecommerce portal should offer a range of different payment options.

2. Build a mobile-friendly online presence

From 42.9% in 2017, mobile-based sales in Vietnam grew to 54.5% in 2022.

To engage better with this new generation of mobile-first shoppers it is vital to build intuitive mobile ecommerce apps and mobile-optimized websites.

3. Use ShipBob’s 3PL services

Recently, Vietnam has been facing lengthy port and cargo delays.

To ensure that customers are not affected by these external factors, choose a 3PL partner that will manage your order fulfillment end to end. Our platform also enables you to track receiving, fulfillment, and shipping in real time.

 

Partner with ShipBob, an international 3PL 

ShipBob makes it to reach customers across the world with a remarkable brand experience.

Selling internationally can be challenging, time-consuming, and costly. But with ShipBob, you’re given everything you need to serve customers across the globe while saving time on logistics. 

We not only take care of picking, packing, and shipping your orders to Vietnam, we also offer upfront fulfillment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.

By partnering with ShipBob, you eliminate the need to manage retail fulfillment, logistics operations, and hire labor.

Working with ShipBob can actually turn logistics and warehousing into a revenue driver because you can increase sales and offer the shipping options, transit times, and delivery speeds that customers want.

The best part about partnering with ShipBob is you get time back to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as customer service and marketing.

“I’ve also been fortunate to ship orders to customers from around the world. The process of shipping internationally to optimize costs has been easy. There’s no difference on my website for international shipping except adding tariff codes on products.

Otherwise ShipBob handles everything for me. Best of all, the price that ShipBob charges to ship internationally is less than it costs for me to print a USPS label myself.”

Anastasia Allison, founder of Kula Cloth

Ready to start shipping to Vietnam from the US? Get started with ShipBob. 

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Shipping to Vietnam FAQs

Here are answers to the top questions about shipping from the US to Vietnam.

What’s the cheapest way to ship to Vietnam from the US?

At $66.95, USPS Priority Mail International offers the cheapest way to ship from the US to Vietnam.

What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Vietnam from the US?

USPS has a flat rate shipping service that helps ecommerce retailers keep the costs of sending heavy packages to Vietnam under control.

What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Vietnam from the US?

The fastest way to ship to Vietnam is through FedEx International Priority.

Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Vietnam from the US?

Yes, importers need to pay customs duty and a 10% VAT on any goods of declared value greater than $44.

What’s the easiest way to ship something to Vietnam from the US?

The likes of UPS and FedEx have a great US footprint that makes parcel drop-off easier. Both carriers also have a robust parcel tracking facility that makes it easier for retailers and customers to know where the order is at.