Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Vietnam
Used-car imports into Vietnam are restricted to the point of impracticality — but the machinery lane is booming. We ship U.S. manufacturing equipment, construction machines, and project cargo to Cat Lai and Haiphong weekly.
Vietnam at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $2,800+
- Ocean transit
- 18–26 days (West Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) · Haiphong
- Import duty + VAT
- Used cars: absolute duties · machinery 0–5% + 10% VAT
- Manufacturing equipment
- 0% duty on most machine lines
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Vietnam: What You Need to Know
Vietnam technically allows used-car imports, but the regime is designed to discourage them: only cars under five years old qualify, importers must be registered businesses, and absolute duties — fixed dollar amounts per unit that stack on top of percentage tariffs and a 35–150% special consumption tax — routinely push the landed cost of an ordinary sedan past double its U.S. price. For private buyers, this lane almost never works, and we say so before you spend money.
The real story is industrial. Vietnam is one of the world's fastest-growing manufacturing economies, and U.S. machinery — CNC lines, packaging equipment, construction machines, generators — enters at 0–5% duty with 10% VAT. Cat Lai in Ho Chi Minh City is the country's busiest container terminal serving the southern industrial belt, while Haiphong feeds the northern factory corridor around Hanoi. Equipment for licensed investment projects can qualify for full duty exemption.
Key takeaway
Treat Vietnam as a machinery market, not a car market: used vehicles face absolute per-unit duties plus 35–150% special consumption tax that typically doubles landed cost. U.S. equipment ships at 0–5% duty + 10% VAT, with full exemptions possible for licensed projects.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Vietnam
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) | 18–24 days | Weekly |
| Oakland, CA | Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) | 20–26 days | Weekly |
| Seattle / Tacoma | Haiphong | 19–25 days | Bi-weekly |
| Houston, TX | Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) | 32–38 days | Bi-weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) | 33–40 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Vietnam from the Port of Savannah
Seaway Export is headquartered at the Port of Savannah, Georgia — one of the fastest-growing container ports in the United States and our primary export gateway. We run regular sailings from Savannah to Vietnam, backed by departures from New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Los Angeles/Long Beach, so we can route your cargo on the lane that reaches Vietnam fastest and at the best price.
Cars, SUVs, pickups & classic vehicles — container or RoRo
Boats, yachts & personal watercraft — cradled or lift-on/lift-off
Heavy equipment & machinery — flat rack, breakbulk or RoRo
What It Costs to Ship to Vietnam
Indicative per-unit rates from U.S. ports. Your exact rate depends on vehicle dimensions, departure region, and current vessel space.
| Service | Typical Rate | What to Know | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container (consolidated) | Custom quote | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $2,800 – $3,900 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $3,700 – $5,300 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | Custom quote | Drive-on service, no container | Running vehicles, trucks, machinery |
| Flat rack / breakbulk | Custom quote | For oversized & non-running units | Heavy equipment, boats |
Rates shown are indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast and are confirmed at booking.
Estimate your landed cost to Vietnam →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentVietnam Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used cars (<5 yrs, licensed importers) | Absolute $ per unit | 10% | + special consumption tax 35–150% |
| New vehicles | 50–70% | 10% | + consumption tax by engine |
| Manufacturing equipment | 0% | 10% | Core machine lines duty-free |
| Construction machinery | 0–5% | 10% | Used machines need inspection |
| Licensed investment projects | 0% | Deferrable | Exemption with project license |
Indicative rates for general guidance — final assessment is made by customs at arrival. Our team confirms the exact landed cost before you book.
Documents You'll Need
- Original vehicle title (Certificate of Title) — lien-free
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice
- Copy of passport or government ID
- U.S. AES export filing (we handle this)
- Import declaration at destination (we coordinate)
- Packing list for personal items, if any
Equipping a factory in Vietnam?
Machinery imported as fixed assets for a licensed investment project can enter Vietnam fully duty-exempt. We coordinate the equipment list against your investment certificate, handle used-machinery inspection requirements, and deliver door-to-factory in the southern or northern industrial zones.
What We Ship to Vietnam
Every cargo type has its own routing, loading method, and import path. Pick yours to see the exact process.
Cars, SUVs & Classics
Container or RoRo service into Vietnam's main vehicle gateways, with full customs handling.
- Sedans, SUVs & pickups
- Classic & collector cars
- Motorcycles & ATVs
Heavy Equipment
Flat rack, breakbulk, and container loading for construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery bound for Vietnam.
- Excavators & dozers
- Agricultural machinery
- Oversized project cargo
Boats & Yachts
Cradled container loading or lift-on/lift-off service for boats and personal watercraft headed to Vietnam.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Vietnam
| Feature | Container | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Personal items allowed inside | ||
| Non-running vehicles accepted | ||
| Lowest cost for running cars | ||
| Weather-protected transit | ||
| Multiple vehicles per booking |
Popular U.S. → Vietnam Routes
Los Angeles / Long Beach → Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai)
18–24 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Oakland, CA → Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai)
20–26 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Seattle / Tacoma → Haiphong
19–25 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai)
33–40 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Vietnam Moves
Quote & booking
Day 0Lock in your rate and vessel space. We confirm pickup windows and the best departure port for your route.
U.S. pickup & delivery to port
Days 1–7Door pickup from any auction, dealer, or residence. Condition photos taken at every handoff.
Export clearance & loading
Days 5–12AES filing, title validation with CBP (72-hour rule), professional loading, blocking, and bracing.
Ocean transit
18–26 days (West Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) · Haiphong.
Customs & handover
2–7 daysImport declaration, duty and tax payment, and release. Optional onward trucking to your final destination.
Buying from a U.S. auction? Read our step-by-step playbook before you bid.
Read the auction shipping guideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about shipping to Vietnam. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Technically yes, but the regime is built to discourage it. Only cars under five years old qualify, the importer must be a registered business, and absolute duties — fixed dollar amounts per unit stacked on top of percentage tariffs and a 35–150% special consumption tax — routinely push an ordinary sedan past double its U.S. price. For private buyers this almost never works, and we say so before you spend money.
Vietnam is one of the world's fastest-growing manufacturing economies, and U.S. equipment — CNC lines, packaging machines, construction equipment, generators — enters at just 0–5% duty with 10% VAT. Cat Lai in Ho Chi Minh City is the country's busiest container terminal serving the southern industrial belt, while Haiphong feeds the northern factory corridor around Hanoi. This is the lane that's genuinely booming.
Yes. Machinery imported as fixed assets for a licensed investment project can enter Vietnam fully duty-exempt, with VAT often deferrable. We coordinate the equipment list against your investment certificate, handle the inspection requirements that apply to used machinery, and deliver door-to-factory in the southern or northern industrial zones. Getting the documentation aligned before loading is what keeps the exemption intact.
About 18–26 days from the West Coast. We sail weekly from Los Angeles/Long Beach and Oakland to Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), with biweekly Seattle/Tacoma service to Haiphong, and biweekly Houston (32–38 days) and Savannah (33–40 days) from the East. Cat Lai serves the southern industrial belt; Haiphong feeds the northern corridor around Hanoi. We'll route to whichever gateway is closest to your project site.
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