Vietnam
USA trade laneVietnam is one of the largest suppliers of clothing and footwear to the US, from the garment factories around Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Hanoi to the footwear plants in the south. To be straightforward about it: large brands usually control this freight through their buying offices and nominated forwarders, and we are not trying to change that. Where we are useful is for growing brands, wholesalers and direct-to-consumer labels that buy FOB from several factories and need one partner to consolidate, clear and deliver.
The compliance picture is specific to this category. For US customs, a garment's origin is normally where it was wholly assembled — so clothing sewn in Vietnam from Chinese fabric is Vietnamese — but forced-labor enforcement looks further back, to the yarn and the cotton. Vietnam is one of the origins with the most UFLPA detentions, and for garments the usual risk is Chinese cotton fabric or yarn. We work through WCA partner agents in Vietnam (AGF has no office there), and entries are filed by our licensed customs brokers.
Last reviewed:
Shipping Apparel & Footwear from Vietnam to USA
Apparel ships in cartons, and it cubes out: a 40ft High Cube fills on volume long before weight. Garment-on-hanger containers suit some programs, at a higher cost per unit. Footwear is bulky for its value, so the box design matters. Most smaller brands buy from several factories at once, and consolidating them into one container at origin — one booking, one entry, one delivery — is usually what makes the freight work.
Direct sailings from Cai Mep–Thi Vai reach Los Angeles and Long Beach in about 21–23 days, and about 28–32 days via Cat Lai and Singapore; Hai Phong serves the northern factories. Air freight from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) or Noi Bai (HAN) covers launches and replenishment, with transit confirmed per booking. Plan production around Tết — 6 February in 2027 — when factories close and labor is slow to return.
- Multi-factory consolidation at origin: one container, one entry
- 40ft High Cube for carton goods; garment-on-hanger where the program needs it
- Carton marks and labels must match the declaration — textiles are examined closely
- Air from SGN or HAN for launches; ocean for everything that can wait
What Drives the Cost
- Normal duty — apparel and footwear carry some of the highest rates in the US tariff schedule, set by fiber, construction and material
- The 12.5% Section 301 layer on top of the normal duty
- Consolidation across factories versus separate shipments
- Ocean versus air for launches and replenishment
- UFLPA documentation — the cost of gathering it is small next to a detained container
- Delivery: distribution center, 3PL or marketplace warehouses
HS Codes and Duty Notes
Classification guidance only — duty rates change and depend on your exact product. Our licensed customs brokers verify every code before you commit to an order.
| HS Code | Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 61 | Knitted or crocheted apparel — T-shirts, sweaters, activewear | Rates vary sharply with fiber content and construction; a blend percentage can change the line. Classify from the specification, not the style name. |
| Chapter 62 | Woven apparel — shirts, trousers, jackets, outerwear | Knit versus woven is the first classification question; water-resistant outerwear and down garments have their own lines. |
| 6402 / 6403 / 6404 | Footwear with rubber or plastic, leather, or textile uppers | Some of the highest normal duties in the tariff schedule, and very sensitive to upper and sole material and construction. Verify the 10-digit line before costing a style. |
| 4202 | Handbags, backpacks and travel goods | Classified by outer surface material; textile, plastic and leather outers fall on different lines. |
Regulations and Compliance
Forced labor (UFLPA) — trace the fiber
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act presumes that goods containing cotton or other inputs from Xinjiang are made with forced labor, and CBP detains shipments until the importer proves otherwise. A garment sewn in Vietnam is still caught if the fabric, yarn or cotton traces back to Xinjiang, and garments made from Chinese fabric are a frequent target. Keep the chain of documents — cotton origin, spinner, weaver or knitter, dyehouse and garment factory, with invoices and production records linking each step — before the goods ship.
Labeling — Textile, Wool and Fur Acts
Garments need fiber content, country of origin, and the manufacturer or dealer identity on the label, plus care instructions under the FTC Care Labeling Rule. Footwear must be marked with its country of origin. Labels go on in production; relabeling in a US warehouse is slow and expensive.
CPSIA for children's products
Children's apparel and footwear need third-party testing for lead and, where relevant, phthalates, permanent tracking labels and a Children's Product Certificate. Drawstrings on children's outerwear are a substantial product hazard. Children's sleepwear has its own strict flammability regime.
Flammability (16 CFR 1610)
Clothing textiles must meet the federal flammability standard; most conventional fabrics pass, but brushed or raised-surface fabrics and some sheer synthetics need testing.
Country of origin and transshipment
For most apparel, origin is where the garment was wholly assembled — but some flat goods, such as scarves and some home textiles, take the origin of the fabric. Footwear has its own rules that focus on where the upper was made, so uppers made in China need checking. Cutting in one country and sewing in another needs care. CBP polices origin through EAPA investigations and penalties under 19 USC 1592, and a Vietnamese certificate of origin (Form B, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade since 5 May 2025) is evidence, not a decision. AGF will not ship cargo whose origin documents we cannot stand behind.
Door-to-Door Import Service
We start with the factories, the styles and the fabric sources: that settles classification, origin and the UFLPA paperwork before the goods are cut. Our WCA partner agent in Vietnam collects from each factory, consolidates the orders into one container, and handles export customs.
Ocean to Los Angeles and Long Beach takes about 21–23 days on a direct sailing; the entry is filed by our licensed customs brokers, and we deliver to your distribution center, 3PL or marketplace warehouses, or hold stock at a partner warehouse near the ports. Quotes are door to door, with exclusions listed up front.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the import duty on clothing from Vietnam?
Is clothing sewn in Vietnam from Chinese fabric made in Vietnam?
What documents do I need to prove my cotton is not from Xinjiang?
Can you consolidate orders from several Vietnamese factories?
Apparel & Footwear is just one example. AGF ships whatever your business moves — on this lane and beyond. If your commodity isn't covered by one of our guides, tell us what you ship and we'll build the logistics around it.
Textiles & Home Textiles from India
Fabrics, Yarn & Trims from China
DDC — Authorized Representative in Kazakhstan
Europe — Achot Baghdasarian