The United States is Vietnam's number-one export market, and for most shippers, ocean freight is the primary mode. Yet for the same cargo, cost and timing can differ substantially depending on port choice, service selection, and document preparation. This guide distills real shipments operated by the Homexim route desk.
Choosing the origin port: Hai Phong, Cat Lai, or Cai Mep?
Northern cargo defaults to Hai Phong. Southern cargo has two options: Cat Lai is convenient for city trucking and the Binh Duong / Dong Nai industrial zones, but most US services actually depart from Cai Mep — where mother vessels call directly. Many bookings marked 'Cat Lai' are in fact gated in at Cat Lai and barged to Cai Mep, adding 1–2 days you should build into the plan.
Realistic transit times
- West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle): direct services 16–20 days; transshipment 22–28 days.
- East Coast (New York, Savannah, Norfolk): 28–35 days depending on Panama or Suez routing.
- Add at both ends: 3–5 days for loading, filing, and haulage before departure; 2–6 days for clearance and delivery after arrival.
The number that matters is not the carrier's brochure transit, but door-to-door time: from cargo ready at the factory to delivery at the buyer's warehouse. Shippers should ask their forwarder to commit against this milestone.
Cost structure of an FCL shipment to the US
- Ocean freight — seasonal, spiking notably ahead of major US holiday periods.
- Vietnam-side local charges: THC, B/L fee, seal, manifest filing.
- Inland trucking and lift-on/lift-off at both ends.
- Customs brokerage, C/O if needed, and specialized inspection fees where applicable.
- US side: ISF filing, import clearance, port fees, and final-mile delivery if selling on D terms.
The most common mistake is comparing quotes by ocean freight alone. A cheap base rate with heavy local charges and surcharges can easily cost more in total. Always request an all-in quote itemized line by line.
Three mistakes that inflate the bill
- Missing closing time due to late container haulage — incurring storage, rebooking fees, and a missed buyer deadline.
- Late or incorrect ISF filing (US customs fines up to $5,000 per shipment).
- Not checking US-side DEM/DET free time — if the buyer's warehouse receives slowly, container detention accrues daily.
If you are planning a US-bound shipment, send your lane and cargo details to Homexim — the route desk returns a plan with weekly sailing schedules, fully itemized total cost, and a documents checklist matched to your cargo.