How to Ship from Thailand to Vietnam: Choosing the Right Route

Three main transport methods: land, sea, and air

Goods from Thailand to Vietnam use three primary routes, each suited to different cargo types. Understanding the strengths of each route helps you avoid paying for speed you don't need, or cutting costs in the wrong places with goods that need fast delivery.

**Land transport across the border** via Laos or Cambodia is the most common route for consumer goods. Trucks collect cargo from a warehouse in Thailand, cross land borders, and deliver to a warehouse in Vietnam. Advantages include faster delivery than sea freight, flexibility on volume, and suitability for both consolidated shipments and full truckloads. The downside is higher cost per kilogram than sea freight for large orders, and service quality depends heavily on your chosen carrier.

**Sea freight** from Thai ports to Vietnamese ports uses full containers (FCL) or less-than-container loads (LCL). This is the most economical route for large orders, heavy or bulky cargo, or non-urgent goods. Disadvantages include longer transit time, more handling at both ports, and reduced schedule control with LCL shipments shared with other shippers.

**Air freight** suits urgent cargo, high-value goods per kilogram, or samples. It is the fastest but most expensive option, with restrictions on liquids, flammables like certain oils, sprays, and batteries.

Quick selection method: ask three questions. How much does this order weigh and how much space does it occupy? Is the per-kilogram value high or low? How soon do you need the goods compared to your sales plan? Sample and trial orders typically go by land or air; regular distribution orders go by land or sea depending on volume; seasonal goods require early planning for sea freight while still meeting peak season demand. Exact timeframes vary by season, border crossing, and carrier, so always confirm with your forwarder when requesting quotes.

Formal import vs. informal: what's the difference and when is formal required

This decision carries the largest impact on your shipment's risk level, and is where newcomers often misunderstand. In short, formal import means importing with complete customs declaration, paying duty as required, and having goods with proper documentation and authorization to circulate in Vietnam. Informal import, in common usage, means bringing goods across the border without complete commercial documents or misrepresenting the nature of the goods.

Many people choose informal import because it is fast and involves less procedure on the first order. The price you pay lies in losing control: cargo can be held, you have no documentation to issue invoices to customers, you cannot list goods on platforms or distribution channels requiring papers, and you have no legal basis if disputes arise.

For certain product categories, formal import is almost the only choice if you want stable business:

• **Thai cosmetics and Thai skincare**: must be registered with the Drug Administration before sale, require Vietnamese supplementary labels, and registration files are based on manufacturer documentation.
• **Food and functional foods**: require either self-declaration or registered declaration depending on category, and are subject to specialist inspection on import.
• **Herbal balm, oil balms, and external herbal products**: depending on active ingredients and claimed effects on the label, may be classified differently in Vietnam, leading to different documentation requirements. This category warrants consultation with your customs broker before ordering.

These are general principles to understand; specific procedures should be checked with regulatory authorities or customs brokers as regulations are updated regularly. A critical point for importers: product registration and documentation in Vietnam are your responsibility or handled through a service you hire; Thai suppliers only provide documentation by product for you to prepare. Choosing a Thai source capable of supplying product-specific documentation from the start determines whether you can proceed with formal import.

Required documents by product category

A formal import shipment requires common documents for all orders plus category-specific items. Prepare this checklist before ordering and send it to both your supplier and forwarder so both sides can prepare.

**Common documents for all shipments** - Purchase contract or confirmed purchase order - Commercial invoice - Detailed packing list by carton - Bill of lading (sea or land) or air waybill as applicable - Certificate of Origin Form D if you want to claim preferential duty rates under ASEAN ATIGA; many Thai products qualify for lower rates with valid C/O, but verify against your product's HS code - Customs declaration prepared by you or a broker

**Category-specific documents** - **Thai cosmetics**: product registration number, Vietnamese supplementary labels, manufacturer documentation for registration submission - **Food and supplements**: self-declaration form or accepted registration notice, specialist inspection results, health certificate or free-sale certificate if required - **Herbal balm and herbal products**: depending on classification in Vietnam, may need cosmetics-type files or different documentation; confirm with your customs broker first - **Household goods and cleaning products**: check if product compliance or quality inspection is required by item type

**Questions to ask your Thai supplier about documents** - Can this product obtain Form D Certificate of Origin, and who applies for it - What documentation will you provide per product when I order so I can prepare local registration files - Can invoices and packing lists include HS codes and descriptions I specify - What is the minimum shelf life remaining at time of delivery

With distributors experienced in serving Vietnamese customers, such as ThaiNex, documentation is supplied per product at order time and delivery conditions are confirmed in the quote, so you can finalize your document checklist at the quotation stage rather than discovering gaps after cargo is loaded.

Packaging and preservation by product type

Damage during transport is silent loss many people only discover when opening boxes. Each Thai product category has its own vulnerability, and packaging standards should be agreed with your supplier in writing.

**Thai cosmetics and skincare**: sensitive to prolonged heat and impacts. Land trucks and sea containers can become very hot in summer; creams, lipsticks, and sunscreens may separate or deform. Request boxes with shock protection, place glass products in box centers, and consider timing shipments to avoid peak summer heat for high-value orders.

**Herbal balm, oil balms, and topical products**: mostly packed in small glass bottles, fragile and prone to contaminating other cargo if broken. Request boxes with compartments per bottle, sturdy outer boxes, fragile labeling, and placement away from pallet bottoms. Some contain flammable components restricted on air freight and require proper declaration.

**Thai herbal products, herbal tea, dried goods**: sensitive to moisture and foreign odors. Request moisture-absorbing packets, moisture-barrier liners inside boxes, and avoid shipping in containers with strongly scented or chemical cargo.

**Food, snacks, supplements**: most critical are remaining shelf life and temperature. Confirm minimum shelf life at delivery, check storage conditions on labels, and use temperature-controlled service for goods requiring refrigeration.

**Household goods, laundry detergent, cleaning products**: heavy and liquid form—risk of leakage. Request sealed caps, shrink wrap, pressure-resistant boxes, and correct orientation stacking.

General principle: request packaging photos before warehouse departure, specify packaging standards in writing on your purchase order, and purchase cargo insurance for high-value orders. When receiving goods, count and photograph before signing to have basis for claims with the carrier or supplier.

Calculate true shipping cost, not just freight rate

A common mistake is comparing routes by freight cost alone, while freight is only part of the total cost to get goods to your warehouse. To understand your shipment's true per-unit cost, list all items below and ask your forwarder for quotes using the same cost structure so you can compare accurately.

• **Goods price per delivery term** agreed with your supplier. Price at supplier's warehouse (EXW), price onto transport in Thailand (FOB or FCA), or price including freight to Vietnam (CIF or equivalent) determines what you pay separately.
• **Thailand domestic costs**: transport from supplier warehouse to port or staging area, export clearance fees, document fees, C/O fees if applicable.
• **Main freight cost** per route: calculated by weight or volume (whichever is larger) for land and air; by container or cubic meter for sea.
• **Surcharges**: port loading/unloading, document fees, peak season fees, fuel surcharge, warehouse storage if delayed pickup.
• **Vietnam taxes and fees**: import duty by HS code and whether C/O reduces the rate, value-added tax, customs clearance fees, specialist inspection fees for cosmetics and food.
• **Declaration and customs clearance service**: customs broker fees, registration filing fees if using a service.
• **Vietnam domestic transport** from port or staging area to your warehouse.
• **Cargo insurance** if purchased.
• **Loss contingency**: broken goods, near-expiry unsaleable stock, exchange rate differences.

Add everything and divide by number of units to get true landed cost. This figure is often significantly higher than purchase price, and it is the actual basis for pricing sales and deciding which route is cheaper. This guide does not provide specific numbers because freight, surcharges, and duty rates vary by date and product; request quotes for your specific order and check current HS code duty rates.

Workflow with supplier and forwarder

Smooth shipping depends on three parties—you, your supplier, and your forwarder—all understanding who does what. A streamlined process for Vietnamese importers:

**1. Confirm delivery terms when requesting quotations.** Ask your supplier which terms they quote at, and consider requesting quotes under different terms to compare. Newcomers often find it convenient when the supplier handles delivery to the transport vehicle in Thailand, with the forwarder handling the rest.

**2. Select a forwarder experienced with the Thailand route and your product type.** Ask if they have handled Thai cosmetics, Thai skincare, Thai supplements, or Thai snacks before, how they manage specialist inspections, and request quotes following the cost structure above.

**3. Create a document checklist and assign responsibilities.** Supplier prepares invoices, packing lists, C/O, product-specific documentation; you or a service prepare registration files and Vietnamese labels; forwarder handles bills of lading and customs declaration. Set deadlines for each task.

**4. Agree in writing on packaging standards and minimum shelf life** in your purchase order.

**5. Inspect goods before warehouse departure** using photos, video, or independent inspection service for large orders.

**6. Monitor shipment progress and prepare receiving**: warehouse, staff for counting, contingency plan if goods arrive early or late.

**7. Receive goods, count, preserve all documentation.** Keep complete document sets for each shipment—you will need them to invoice customers, list on platforms, and for any inspections.

With your first order, accept slightly slower delivery to do things correctly; subsequent orders will repeat this process almost automatically. If you are selecting Thai sources for long-term distribution, prioritize suppliers experienced with Vietnamese buyers, with Vietnamese-speaking staff, and who supply product-specific documentation at order time. Delivery terms, timelines, and specific documentation are always confirmed in the quotation and vary by product and destination; a good partner will help you choose the right route instead of just selling you goods.