# Importing from Vietnam: ports, groupage and transit times

To import from Vietnam, compare ports and groupage based on where your factories are, when each lot is ready and when you need delivery. The full landed cost and each supplier's schedule matter more than a port-to-port price alone.

[Source](https://www.ovrsea.com/insights/en/blog/importing-from-vietnam-ports-groupage-transit-times)

Language: en
Published: 2026-10-07

To plan a Vietnam-France shipment, begin with each factory's location and cargo-ready date, then work back from the required delivery date. These facts determine pickup, the departure port, the ocean service and whether groupage or a full container makes sense. Compare offers on the same collection and delivery scope.

## Which Vietnam departure port fits the factory?

A factory in northern Vietnam and one near Ho Chi Minh City will not necessarily use the same gateway. Ask for the production site's loading address, not just the supplier's registered office. Compare the inland journey to the terminal, available sailings, calls and destination handling.

| Information to collect | Decision it supports |
| --- | --- |
| Each factory and handover address | Departure port and inland pickup cost |
| Ready date for each lot | Feasible sailing and consolidation |
| Dimensions, weight and product constraints | Equipment, handling and LCL/FCL choice |
| Receiving warehouse and required date | Arrival port and full route |
| Incoterm and supplier's quoted scope | Who organises and pays for each step |

For delivery in southern or southeastern France, Fos can be compared with Le Havre. A lower ocean rate may be offset by a longer inland delivery leg.

## Can a transshipment service arrive before a direct sailing?

Yes. A direct service avoids a change of vessel but may make several calls before your unloading port. A transshipment service can use a faster overall rotation. Ask for dated schedules and an estimated warehouse delivery date that includes port work and customs clearance.

| Compare | Direct service | Transshipment |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ocean routing | One vessel, possibly several calls | A connection between vessels |
| Timing risk | Delays at earlier calls | Late first vessel or missed connection |
| Decision basis | Warehouse date and total cost | The same destination, date and cost scope |

The [transit-time guide](https://www.ovrsea.com/insights/en/guides/shipping-delays-transit-time-reliability) explains the wider comparison. Tell OVRSEA both your preferred arrival date and the date after which stock becomes insufficient.

## Should I use LCL groupage or an FCL container?

LCL (*Less than Container Load*) shares a container with other shipments. FCL (*Full Container Load*) reserves one container for your cargo. Compare complete costs and availability, not a fixed volume rule. If suppliers are ready on different dates, waiting for the last lot can delay the others. A partial LCL departure may be worth pricing alongside consolidation.

Include pickup, ocean freight, origin and destination charges, customs and final delivery on both sides of the comparison. The [OVRSEA LCL/FCL guide](https://www.ovrsea.com/insights/en/guides/lcl-vs-fcl-ocean-groupage) provides a decision framework. Confirm the actual sailing frequency and capacity before planning later departures.

## Is rail through China an option for northern Vietnam?

A rail connection via China can be studied for a northern Vietnam origin. Its value depends on factory location, cargo value, urgency and total cost to the recipient. Check the exact route, transfers, insurance and restrictions. Terms for a China-Europe service cannot simply be applied to a Vietnam origin; the [China-Europe rail guide](https://www.ovrsea.com/insights/en/guides/china-europe-rail-freight) describes that separate scope.

## How should I prepare for Tết closures?

Ask every factory for its own closure dates, last handover and restart schedule. Local coordination can establish collection points, documents and receiving conditions. A factory visit or supplier call is not a supplier audit unless its scope is agreed in advance.

## How can OVRSEA support Vietnam imports?

OVRSEA combines transport comparisons with its teams' local knowledge in Vietnam. In Asia it operates from its own offices in China, India, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam: local teams consolidate and clear goods on the ground without an intermediary agent. This helps connect supplier coordination, port choice and lot planning to your required delivery.

Send OVRSEA the inputs above and identify the lots critical to stock continuity. You can then compare a consolidated departure, staggered shipments or another route on common assumptions. [Talk to an OVRSEA expert about Vietnam imports](https://www.ovrsea.com/insights/en/talk-to-an-expert?utm_source=insights&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=webinar-vietnam-2026&utm_content=article-vietnam).

Schedules, capacity and rates must be confirmed for the specific shipment.

## FAQ

### Which port should I use for an import from Vietnam to France?

Start with the factory's actual loading address, then compare inland pickup, available ocean services, calls and final delivery. The closest port does not necessarily provide the shortest door-to-door time.

### Is a direct ocean service from Vietnam always faster?

No. A direct service can call at several European ports before yours. A service with transshipment may arrive sooner if the connection and rotation work better. Compare dated schedules through to your warehouse.

### At what volume should I switch from LCL to FCL?

There is no universal cubic-metre threshold. Compare full LCL and FCL costs for the actual cargo, route and handling needs, including when each supplier can release its lot and when stock is needed at destination.

### How should I plan departures around Tết?

Ask each supplier for its closure dates, last cargo handover date and reopening plan. Then check transport departures against those dates. Factories do not all follow the same calendar.

### What should I give OVRSEA to compare Vietnam freight options?

Provide factory addresses, product description, package count and dimensions, weight, ready date for each supplier, Incoterm and delivery address. State the desired delivery date and which lots are critical to stock.