Shipping from Dubai
to Vietnam.
We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Vietnam every week, by sea and by air. Vietnam is long and thin, and the north and the south are served by different ports, so where your goods are going decides the route. We ship business and personal cargo, do the paperwork at both ends, and deliver to your address.
Overview
Sea and air freight
to Vietnam.
Shipping from Dubai to Vietnam takes about 18 to 30 days by sea, and 1 to 4 days by air. Ships from Jebel Ali normally transfer at Singapore or Port Klang on the way, and that transfer is where most of the time goes. In the south, Cat Lai serves Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai, and the deep-sea terminals at Cai Mep near Vung Tau take the bigger vessels. In the north, Hai Phong serves Hanoi, Bac Ninh and Hai Duong. Da Nang serves the centre. Air cargo flies into Tan Son Nhat for the south and Noi Bai for the north. We deliver everywhere, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, Bien Hoa, Hue, Nha Trang, Vung Tau and Bac Ninh. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Vietnam route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending and whether it is going north or south, and we will tell you which way is cheaper.

Ports and gateways
Sea ports and airports
we ship to from Dubai.
Every bill of lading carries two ports: where the cargo loads, and where it discharges. We load at Jebel Ali or another UAE port. Vietnam has four sea ports we use and two airports. They suit different cargo and different inland legs, so the loading port and the discharge port are worth choosing separately.
POLPort of loading
We collect anywhere in the UAE, free zones included, and load at whichever of these eight suits the cargo.
- Jebel AliAEJEA
- Port RashidAEPRA
- Khalifa PortAEKHL
- Zayed PortAEAUH
- Port KhalidAESHJ
- Khor FakkanAEKLF
- Port of FujairahAEFJR
- Ajman PortAEAJM
PODPort of discharge
The right one is whichever leaves the shortest inland leg to your delivery address. On a long lane that leg is a shipment in its own right, so it is planned rather than assumed.
- Cat Lai, Ho Chi Minh CityVNSGNSea port, Saigon RiverHo Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and southern Vietnam
How cargo reaches Cat Lai, Ho Chi Minh City
Shipping from Dubai to Cat Lai normally transfers at Singapore or Port Klang rather than running direct. It is the busiest gateway in the country and the default for anything delivering around Ho Chi Minh City. The river approach limits vessel size, which is why the biggest ships call at Cai Mep instead and cargo is fed up. Sea freight is priced per container on a full load and per cubic metre on a shared one. Get a rate for Cat Lai, Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Mep, Vung TauVNVUTSea port, Ba Ria-Vung TauHo Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and the southern industrial zones
How cargo reaches Cai Mep, Vung Tau
Shipping from Dubai to Cai Mep can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking, and it is the one Vietnamese gateway deep enough for the largest ships, so a direct call is more likely here than elsewhere. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Cat Lai is the alternative when delivery is inside Ho Chi Minh City. The quote separates ocean freight, transshipment, carrier surcharges, terminal handling, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Cai Mep, Vung Tau - Hai PhongVNHPHSea port, Gulf of TonkinHanoi, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong and northern Vietnam
How cargo reaches Hai Phong
Hai Phong is the northern gateway and the right answer for anything delivering around Hanoi. Cargo from Dubai reaches it through a regional hub, and often through a second connection after that, so allow more time than the southern ports. Landing a northern shipment in the south instead means a road journey of well over a thousand kilometres, which is the mistake worth avoiding on this lane. Get a rate for Hai Phong - Da NangVNDADSea port, South China SeaDa Nang, Hue and central Vietnam
How cargo reaches Da Nang
Da Nang serves the centre of the country and depends on regional feeder connections from Dubai. It suits deliveries around Da Nang and Hue that would otherwise face a long road leg from either end of the country. Tell us the delivery town and we will confirm what is running before you book. Get a rate for Da Nang - Tan Son Nhat International AirportSGNAirportHo Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam
How cargo reaches Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Air freight from Dubai to Tan Son Nhat can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. It serves Ho Chi Minh City and the southern industrial zones, and the airport sits inside the city, so the delivery leg is short. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Noi Bai is the alternative for the north. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Tan Son Nhat International Airport - Noi Bai International AirportHANAirportHanoi and northern Vietnam
How cargo reaches Noi Bai International Airport
Air freight from Dubai to Noi Bai can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. It serves Hanoi and the northern electronics belt, which is where most air cargo into Vietnam is going. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Tan Son Nhat is the alternative for the south. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Noi Bai International Airport
- Cat Lai, Ho Chi Minh CityVNSGNSea port, Saigon RiverHo Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and southern Vietnam
Before you ship
Import rules
for Vietnam.
Vietnam does not have one reference number that every shipment needs before it leaves Dubai, which keeps ordinary cargo simple. What matters instead is whether the product itself is controlled. Food, medicines, agricultural goods, medical equipment and various regulated products need a licence, a quarantine registration, a food-safety check or a quality inspection, and each of those is handled by the ministry responsible for that product. Your buyer applies for it in Vietnam. The reason to look at this at booking is timing: where a licence is required, it is a condition of import, so it needs to exist rather than be applied for once the container has landed. Most ordinary goods need nothing beyond normal customs paperwork. Tell us the product and the HS code and we will confirm which side of the line it falls on before you book.

Documentation
Documents you need
for Vietnam.
These 9 cover most shipments to Vietnam. The exact list depends on the commodity and its HS code, so send us both and we confirm what applies before the cargo is booked.
- 01Invoice showing what you paid for the goods
- 02Packing list showing what is inside
- 03Certificate of origin showing where the goods were made
- 04Bill of lading or air waybill, which is the shipping ticket
- 05Dubai export paper, which we do for you
- 06Vietnamese customs declaration at the destination
- 07Import licence, where the product is controlled
- 08Quarantine certificate or registration, where the product needs one
- 09Food safety or quality inspection documents, where they apply
Get the paperwork right in Dubai and clearance at destination is routine. Fixing a document after arrival is slow, and storage accrues the whole time it takes.

How it works
Dubai to Vietnam
shipping, step by step.
Send the cargo details: what it is, where it is going, rough weight and dimensions. We come back with the routes that suit it, sea against air, and a written rate with a validity date on it. You pick one, we book it, and one coordinator stays with the shipment until it is delivered in Vietnam.
- 01
Send the details
Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, how big it is, and where in Vietnam it goes.
- 02
Get a price
We send you a price in writing, with every charge shown. No surprises later.
- 03
We book and clear
We check whether the goods need a licence, pick the right port for north or south, collect, load, and handle the papers at both ends.
- 04
We deliver
We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.
Questions
Cargo to Vietnam
questions, answered.
The 16 we are asked most on the Dubai to Vietnam route. If yours is not here, send it with the commodity and we will answer it directly.
Do you offer movers and packers for a house move from Dubai to Vietnam?
Yes. Our movers and packers do the packing, wrapping and listing in Dubai, then we ship your furniture and household goods in a full container, or share one if you have less to send. The item by item list matters, because customs clear personal effects against it. Fuel, gas cylinders, paint, aerosols and loose batteries cannot travel, and we give you the full list before packing day.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Vietnam take?
Sea freight to Vietnam takes about 18 to 30 days, and air freight to Vietnam takes 1 to 4 days. The sea range is wide because ships transfer at Singapore or Port Klang rather than sailing direct. A published rotation reaches Cai Mep in about 21 days. Northern ports usually need a further connection. We give you a date in writing when we quote.
How much does shipping from Dubai to Vietnam cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in Vietnam it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to Vietnam is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to Vietnam is priced on weight or size, whichever is greater. Send us the details and we send you a price in writing, usually the same day.
Which cities in Vietnam do you deliver to?
All of them. Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, Bien Hoa, Hue, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Quy Nhon, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Thanh Hoa and Buon Ma Thuot. Just give us the address and we bring it to the door.
Which ports in Vietnam do you ship to?
Cat Lai and Cai Mep in the south, for Ho Chi Minh City and the surrounding provinces. Hai Phong in the north, for Hanoi. Da Nang for the centre. For air cargo we fly into Tan Son Nhat in the south and Noi Bai in the north.
Should my cargo go north or south?
Whichever half the delivery address is in. Vietnam is more than a thousand kilometres long, so landing in the wrong half means a road journey that can cost more than the sea leg itself. Hai Phong for Hanoi and the north, Cat Lai or Cai Mep for Ho Chi Minh City and the south.
What is the difference between Cat Lai and Cai Mep?
Cat Lai sits on the river and is the busiest terminal in the country, but the river limits how big a ship can call. Cai Mep is the deep-sea terminal group near Vung Tau and takes the larger vessels. For the southern industrial zones Cai Mep is often the better landing point because it avoids the river leg.
Why does Vietnam take longer than Malaysia or Thailand?
Because ships from Dubai transfer at Singapore or Port Klang on the way rather than sailing direct. That transfer is where most of the extra time goes. Northern ports often need a second connection on top of it.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Vietnam door to door. We collect the goods in Dubai, move them, clear them through customs, and bring them to your address. You deal with one company for the whole journey.
Can I send a small shipment, or do I need a full container?
You can send as little as one box or one pallet. We put small shipments from different customers into one shared container. This is called LCL, or less than container load. Your goods load at Jebel Ali and come into Cat Lai. When you have more goods, you move up to your own full container, which is called FCL. We will tell you which one is cheaper.
Does my product need an import licence in Vietnam?
It might. Food, medicines, agricultural goods, medical equipment and various regulated products need a licence, a quarantine registration or an inspection, and each is handled by the ministry responsible for that product. Most ordinary goods need nothing extra. Tell us the product and the HS code and we will check for you.
Can you ship a car from Dubai to Vietnam?
Ask us first. We do car shipping to Vietnam, but used vehicles are regulated rather than freely imported, and the rules have changed in recent years. We could not confirm a single age limit that applies to every category, so we will check your exact case rather than quote a rule that might be out of date. Send us the make, model, year and chassis number before you buy.
Do you handle customs clearance in Vietnam?
Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Vietnam. You do not need to find your own clearing agent.
Can you collect the goods from my supplier in Dubai?
Yes. We collect anywhere in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE. We can also hold your goods in warehousing and storage in Dubai until you are ready to ship. That helps when you are buying from several suppliers and want everything to travel to Cat Lai in one container.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Vietnam?
Yes. We move project cargo to Vietnam as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship. Cai Mep suits the heavier pieces because it takes larger vessels. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Can you move my household goods to Vietnam?
Yes. We move full house moves and part loads to Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang. We pack, collect, move and deliver, and we handle the customs clearance so your things are not waiting on paperwork. Tell us whether you are moving there for work or permanently, because it affects how the shipment is declared.
Ready to ship from Dubai
to Vietnam?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Vietnam checks before you ship, then the routing options, then a written rate with a validity date on it.
- Written rates
- One coordinator
- Customs handled in house
- UAE-wide collection

