There are a multitude of options available when trying to ship goods between US and Vietnam.
Coupled with the complications that may arise from the long distance between both countries, deciding on the mode of shipment can be a daunting task.
Whether you’re a business owner looking to ship cargo or someone who is looking to send your items to a loved one, this article has got you covered.
What are the ways to ship from US to Vietnam?
While there are many ways to ship from US to Vietnam, we are going to focus on shipping via a freight forwarder.
A freight forwarder oversees the arrangement of the importing and exporting of your cargo and offers a myriad of shipping services. In this article, we will be featuring 3 of them.
1. Air Freight
Air freight is a fast and efficient mode of transportation that predominately utilises airlines to do the bulk of the freight movement.
Air freight forwarders are not in charge of handling the movement of cargo; instead, they ensure that the logistics are in place for the goods to be moved around smoothly.
They also make sure that the various transport organizations can connect up into a smooth chain of operations. This minimises transportation costs while ensuring that the goods are able to turn up at the right place and time.
When considering air freight, you may want to take note of the following:
Advantages of Air Freight
Fastest shipping method
Door to door delivery takes about approximately 7 days.
Accurate and punctual delivery dates and times
Arrival and departure times are highly reliable as airlines tend to adhere to their schedules strictly.
Send cargo almost anywhere
Airlines often cover a large network of destinations, shipping cargo to almost anywhere in the world.
Disadvantages of Air Freight
Higher cost
Due to higher demand for air freight services.
Size limitations
As compared to large vessels, planes are smaller in size, thus limiting the size and weight of cargo that it can carry.
Dependency on weather
Air freight can be affected by adverse weather conditions that will lead to the suspension of air services.
2. Sea Freight
Sea freight is the transportation of cargo via a sea vessel. The goods are usually consolidated into shipping containers or placed directly onto the vessels.
Sea freight forwarders manage the shipping and warehousing distribution services to ensure that your goods arrive from their origin to their intended destination.
This involves aiding you in the preparation of relevant documentation to obtain custom clearance by both the exporting and importing countries’ customs.
In addition, they must also be well-versed in international shipping laws to be able to properly advise you on the laws and fees that the ports abide to, ensuring a smooth shipment.
When considering sea freight, you may want to take note of the following:
Advantages of Sea Freight
Lower cost
Sea freight rates are often lower as compared to other shipping methods.
High carrying capacity
Sea freights can usually cater to your needs no matter the size of your goods.
Disadvantages of Sea Freight
Longer delivery times
Door to door delivery takes about approximately 25 – 35 days.
Risky
The long shipping duration increases the risk of loss or damage of shipment
3. Trans-shipment
Trans-shipment refers to the act of transferring a container from one vessel to another bound for its destination.
Trans-shipment is a necessary part of freight forwarding – due to the practical restrictions in terms of port coverage, there is no shipping line that is able to cover all ports in the world.
As a result, these lines are broken up into trade lanes and a shipment may have to undergo multiple trans-shipment during its journey from its origin to its destination. Think of it like a flight transit, but for your cargo.
When considering trans-shipment, you may want to take note of the following:
Advantages of Trans-shipment
Increased safety and security
Lower risk of theft as the contents within the container is unknown to carriers
Lower cost
Due to economies of scale
Disadvantages of Trans-shipment
Longer delivery times
Door to door delivery for goods transported via trans-shipment takes about an average of 30 – 45 days
Factors affecting shipping costs from US to Vietnam
Before you decide on your shipping method, you should identify the factors that may affect the shipping costs involved.
Exceptions are given to certain goods such as:
- Goods in transit
- Goods that have been exported abroad from a non-tariff zone or imported from a foreign country into a non-tariff area whose usage is limited non-tariff areas only
- Goods that are passing from one non-tariff zone to another.
What is the cheapest way to ship from US to Vietnam?
If you’re looking for a cost-efficient method of shipping, we recommend shipping via trans-shipment where costs are kept low due to the economies of scale brought about by the large vessels and their ability to carry a large quantity of cargo.
How to engage M&P and what is the procedure like?
Have your goods ready? Here’s how the entire shipment process with M&P International Freights looks like.
#1
Request for a quotation
Kickstart the process by approaching the M&P team in Singapore to request for a quotation for your shipment. You may use the contact form on our website to submit your query.
#2
Approve the quotation
Once the quote has been approved, an M&P appointed USA agent, who is a partner of our company, will oversee the handling of the shipment from USA to Vietnam directly.
#3
Sit back and get an update on the shipment status
After the goods has been shipped out, we will then update you on the status of your cargo in a timely manner.
In addition, M&P will also handle any documentary swap required to comply with the import requirements of Vietnam customs.
Details required to provide before we can send you a shipping quote:
To facilitate the quotation process, we will require you to be as specific as possible when conveying your requirements.
When requesting for a quotation, kindly provide us with the following details:
1. US export customs clearance
Please indicate whether the supplier in USA will arrange export customs clearance on your behalf.
2. Consignee details in Vietnam
Please ensure that the receiver in Vietnam has a valid import licence.
3. Cargo details
This includes the weight, dimension, and volume of the cargo.
4. Packing list and commercial invoice
Describe the contents of your cargo and provide us with a copy of your commercial invoice
Why should you engage us?
M&P International Freights takes pride in ensuring the security and efficiency of the shipment. With our services, we can guarantee:
Reliability
As one of the world’s leading international freight forwarders accredited by FIATA, SLA, and MTO, M&P International Freights has been providing our customers with a wide variety of forwarding services including air freight and sea freight.
Our expertise in the field of freight forwarding have, over the past 12 years, provided customers with cutting-edge services within a competitive environment; providing the proficiency and supervision required with respect to your shipment while working closely with you and catering to your tailored requirements.
Customer Satisfaction
At M&P International Freights, we view our customers as our utmost priority and the driving force behind our operations. We ensure customer satisfaction every step of the way by having our personal M&P consultant serve as a single point of contact between you and our team.
Through our hard work, we strive in providing a bespoke service to exceed your expectations and keep you satisfied. With M&P International Freights, you can dismiss the worry of losing a valuable consignment or wasting precious time waiting for the delivery of your goods.