Complete guide to shipping from Vietnam to Los Angeles, covering transit times, port information, and shipping options for this fast-growing China+1 trade lane.
The Vietnam to Los Angeles shipping route has emerged as one of the most strategically important trade lanes in the trans-Pacific market. As global manufacturers diversify their supply chains away from China—a strategy commonly known as "China+1"—Vietnam has positioned itself as the premier alternative manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.
This route connects Vietnam's major export hubs in Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Da Nang with North America's largest port complex at Los Angeles and Long Beach. The growing volume of goods flowing along this corridor reflects Vietnam's remarkable transformation into a global manufacturing powerhouse, particularly for textiles, footwear, electronics, and furniture.
Whether you're an established importer diversifying your supply chain or a business exploring Vietnam sourcing for the first time, understanding this route's dynamics is essential for optimizing your logistics strategy and maintaining competitive advantage in today's evolving trade environment.
The China+1 strategy has fundamentally reshaped global manufacturing over the past decade. Rising labor costs in China, trade tensions with the United States, and the COVID-19 pandemic's exposure of supply chain vulnerabilities have accelerated the movement of production to alternative locations. Vietnam stands at the forefront of this transformation.
Several factors make Vietnam the preferred China+1 destination:
Different industries have moved to Vietnam at varying paces. Textiles and footwear led the migration, with global brands like Nike and Adidas now producing the majority of their goods in Vietnam. Electronics assembly has followed, with Samsung operating major facilities in the north. Furniture manufacturers have established significant operations, particularly in the southern provinces.
Get competitive rates for your Vietnam to Los Angeles shipment.
Cat Lai Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's busiest container port, handling approximately 60% of the country's maritime exports. Located along the Saigon River, it serves the massive southern industrial region including Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces. The port offers direct services to Los Angeles from multiple carriers with weekly sailings. Its proximity to major manufacturing zones makes it the primary gateway for textiles, footwear, furniture, and electronics exports.
Vietnam's second-largest port, Hai Phong serves the rapidly growing northern manufacturing region, including Hanoi and the surrounding industrial provinces. The port has seen significant infrastructure investment, including the deep-water Lach Huyen International Gateway Terminal capable of handling the largest container vessels. Northern Vietnam's electronics and textile industries rely heavily on Hai Phong for exports, with Samsung's massive production facilities nearby.
Strategically located in central Vietnam, Da Nang serves the growing manufacturing base in the central region. While smaller than the northern and southern ports, Da Nang offers competitive options for cargo originating from central provinces. The port is expanding its container handling capacity to meet growing demand from the region's developing industrial zones.
Vietnam continues investing in port infrastructure, with developments at Cai Mep-Thi Vai deepwater port complex offering an alternative to Cat Lai for larger vessels and providing additional capacity for the booming southern export region.
America's busiest container port, the Port of Los Angeles handles approximately 10 million TEUs annually. Located in San Pedro Bay, it features 27 cargo terminals, 82 container cranes, and extensive on-dock rail facilities. The port operates 24/7 and serves as the primary U.S. gateway for Vietnamese goods entering the West Coast market.
Adjacent to Los Angeles, Long Beach is the second-busiest U.S. container port. Together, these ports handle about 40% of all containerized imports entering the United States. Long Beach has invested heavily in infrastructure improvements and green initiatives, making it well-equipped to handle growing volumes from Southeast Asia.
The LA/Long Beach port complex connects to the entire continental United States. Rail intermodal services reach Chicago in 4-5 days, Dallas in 3-4 days, and Memphis in 3-4 days. Regional trucking serves the massive Southern California market and extends to Arizona, Nevada, and beyond.
US-Vietnam trade has experienced remarkable growth over the past two decades. From a near-zero base following normalization of relations in 1995, bilateral trade exceeded $139 billion in 2023. Vietnam has become one of America's top ten trading partners, with the trade relationship continuing to expand year over year.
While the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the trade relationship benefits from:
Unlike goods from China subject to Section 301 tariffs, Vietnamese products generally face only standard most-favored-nation duty rates. This significant cost advantage has accelerated manufacturing migration to Vietnam and makes the Vietnam-US route increasingly attractive for importers.
Both governments continue working to strengthen commercial ties. Areas of focus include intellectual property protection, digital trade rules, labor standards, and environmental compliance. These discussions shape the regulatory environment for businesses operating along this trade corridor.
Transit times from Vietnam to Los Angeles are influenced by multiple factors that shippers should consider when planning their logistics:
Direct services from Ho Chi Minh City to Los Angeles typically take 14-18 days. However, many services transship at hub ports in Singapore, Hong Kong, or Busan, which can add 3-7 days to transit time. When speed is critical, verify whether your chosen service is direct or includes transshipment.
Transit times vary by Vietnamese port. Ho Chi Minh City generally offers the most direct routing options, while Hai Phong shipments may require transshipment at southern ports or regional hubs. Da Nang services often connect through Ho Chi Minh City or regional transshipment points.
Like other trans-Pacific routes, Vietnam to LA experiences seasonal variations:
Major carriers serving this route include COSCO, Evergreen, ONE, Hapag-Lloyd, and regional specialists. Service frequency and reliability vary by carrier, making partner selection an important factor in transit time consistency.
FCL is the preferred option for larger shipments from Vietnam. Standard container types include 20-foot (TEU), 40-foot standard, and 40-foot high cube. Given the nature of Vietnamese exports—textiles, footwear, furniture—many shipments utilize high-cube containers to maximize cargo space for lightweight, voluminous goods. FCL offers faster transit and better cargo security.
LCL services consolidate multiple shippers' goods into shared containers, making it cost-effective for smaller shipments. Major consolidation hubs in Ho Chi Minh City offer regular LCL services to Los Angeles. Transit times are longer (18-22 days) due to consolidation and deconsolidation processes, but LCL provides access to ocean freight economics for growing businesses not yet shipping full containers.
For time-sensitive shipments, air freight from Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) or Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) provides 2-6 day delivery to LAX. Air is essential for high-value electronics, urgent production samples, fashion items with short seasons, and perishable goods like seafood. While more expensive, air freight's speed can offset costs through reduced inventory carrying expenses.
Some carriers offer premium ocean services with guaranteed space, faster routing, and priority handling. These services bridge the gap between standard ocean and air freight, providing improved transit times at rates below air freight pricing.
All Vietnamese goods entering the United States must clear Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Key requirements include:
Common Vietnamese exports face specific regulatory requirements:
Import duties on Vietnamese goods are based on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). Unlike Chinese goods facing Section 301 tariffs, Vietnamese products typically enjoy standard MFN rates. Proper HTS classification is essential—working with an experienced customs broker ensures accurate duty assessment and compliance with all regulations.
Understanding the full cost structure helps optimize your Vietnam to LA shipping budget:
The Vietnam route offers several cost advantages:
Cubic helps importers optimize Vietnam shipping costs through:
Full container load via major carriers with regular weekly sailings from Ho Chi Minh City
Less than container load with consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination
Priority air freight from SGN/HAN to LAX with expedited customs clearance
Regular air freight service via major airlines with frequent departures
Transit times are estimates and may vary based on carrier schedules, port congestion, weather conditions, and customs clearance. Contact us for current transit times and availability.
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