Are you looking at Vietnamese products and imports from Vietnam? While doing so, you may ask yourself, is there a tariff on goods from Vietnam to the USA? If yes, what are the effective rates, and are they higher or lower compared to China? In this guide, we’ll give you a final answer, show you how to compute the actual landed cost, and provide some tips to make imports from Vietnam easier while staying compliant.
Why Tariffs Matter for US Importers?
Tariffs are government taxes on imported goods. They are applied at the border and typically based on the product’s value or quantity. For example, a 10% tariff on $50,000 worth of imported furniture means the importer must pay an extra $5,000 in duties.
When it comes to sourcing and importing goods from another country, tariffs can increase costs and complicate supply chains. Here’s how it usually shows up:
- Tariffs push prices higher. They add directly to the cost of imported goods, especially in sensitive sectors like textiles and furniture. This means higher prices not just for importers but eventually for consumers as well.
- Tariffs squeeze profit margins. If importers can’t pass all the extra costs on to customers, they often have to accept thinner margins to stay competitive in the US market.
- Tariffs disrupt supply chains. Importers may need to shift to suppliers in countries with lower tariffs, which can be a complicated and expensive process.
Current Tariff Policies on Vietnamese Goods
Is there a tariff on goods from Vietnam to the USA? Well, the answer is simply yes. Earlier this year, the US implemented new regulations on trade that affect how Vietnamese products are taxed. Accordingly, Vietnamese products now carry a 20% duty.
In addition, products that only pass through Vietnam pay a higher duty of 40%. This is meant to prevent cases where goods from other countries are given minimal processing in Vietnam just to get a “Made in Vietnam” label.
US Tariff Rates by Product Category
Right now, the 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods includes two elements. First is the normal MFN (most-favored-nation) tariff, usually 5 to 15% based on the product. The second is an additional countervailing duty, maybe around 10%. Let us give you a brief overview so you can see how it plays out in different industries:
| # | Category | Base MFN Duty | Extra Duty | Current Total | Includes |
| 1 | Textile & Footwear | 10-15% | +10% | 20-25% | Sportswear, canvas and leather shoes, garments, textiles |
| 2 | Furniture & Wood Products | 10-15% | +10% | 20-25% | Tables, chairs, cabinets, wood décor |
| 3 | Agricultural Products | 5-10% | +10% | 15-20% | Mango, dragon fruit, lychee, Robusta coffee, pepper, cashew |
| 4 | Seafood | 5-10% | +10% | 15-20% | Shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid |
| 5 | Electronics & Appliances | 0-5% | +10% | 5-10% | Earphones, phone chargers, rice cookers, and home appliances |
| 6 | Machinery & Parts | 5-10% | +10% | 15-20% | Light industrial equipment, mechanical parts |
And to continue with the Is there a tariff on goods from Vietnam to the USA? guide, let’s talk about how you can apply tariff information to calculate the total cost of moving goods from Vietnam to the US.
How to Calculate Landed Cost for Vietnamese Goods
The landed cost is the total amount you are likely to pay to bring goods from Vietnam to your warehouse. The more accurately you calculate it, the better you’ll understand the true cost of each item. This helps you set the right selling price and keep a healthy margin.
The basic formula is the following:
Landed Cost = Product Cost + Freight and Transportation + Duties and Taxes + Insurance + Other Operating Costs
Here are the main steps in figuring it out:
1. Know Your Basic Product Cost and Make Sure Incoterms
This is the first step in figuring out your landed cost. The number can vary depending on how you negotiate your quantity discounts with your supplier, as well as currency exchange rates. As of September 10, 2025, the official exchange rate is around 1 USD = 26,387 VND, according to the State Bank of Vietnam.
You also need to ensure that your conditions are FOB, CIF, or occasionally EXW:
- FOB: You pay shipping and insurance.
- CIF: The exporter pays for shipping and insurance.
- EXW: You arrange everything from the factory of the supplier, usually with some additional higher extra charges.
2. Add Transportation and Freight Charges
Some of these are the whole transit of your goods from the Vietnamese factory to your US destination. Currently, this includes two main categories:
- Domestic handling fees: trucking, rail, or short-haul moves.
- International freight: sea or air freight, container rates, port charges, and fuel surcharges.
For domestic transport within Vietnam, costs are usually modest. They range from about $50 to $200 per container depending on distance and service level.
Costs for international transport are higher. As of 2025, shipping a 20-foot container from Vietnam to the US West Coast averages $1,300-$1,880, while to the East Coast it’s $1,800-$2,000. A 40-foot container runs about $2,000-$3,200 to the West Coast and $3,500-$3,800 to the East Coast.
Do not forget last-mile delivery from the US airport or port to your warehouse. This is about $10 per order on average.
3. Know Your Customs Duties and Taxes
These costs vary depending on the type and value of the goods you import. The main ones are import duties, which are calculated using the correct HS code from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), along with additional surcharges such as countervailing or anti-dumping duties.
You also need to account for customs broker fees, which cover the paperwork and clearance process, and in some cases state sales tax or VAT-style charges. Together, these factors can add significantly to your total landed cost.
4. Add Insurance, Handling & Operating Costs
These are also smaller but necessary costs to keep your supply chain running, including insurance for transit risks, loading and unloading fees, and storage or warehousing charges. These typically range from a few hundred to over a thousand USD per shipment, depending on cargo value, distance, and port or warehouse rates.
Be mindful of other charges such as inspection, paperwork, processing, and currency exchange differences. Importing from Vietnam often involves inspection fees of around $200-$350 per container, document processing charges of $50-$100, and bank fees for currency exchange that usually add 0.3%-0.6% on top of the transaction value.
Here’s an example. Let’s say you buy Vietnamese products at an FOB price of $100,000, pay $6,000 for ocean freight and insurance, and face 20% import duties ($20,000), plus $2,000 in broker and handling fees. The total landed cost will be:
$100,000 + $6,000 + $20,000 + $2,000 = $128,000
Tariff Comparison: Vietnam and China
Current US-China trade tensions have prompted some US importers to look for alternative bases of sourcing. Vietnam quickly emerged as one of the most attractive choices. To make a well-informed decision, let’s take a closer look at how US tariffs affect products from both countries.
Chinese exports continue to be heavily affected by Section 301 tariffs and other trade measures. Tariffs on China rose sharply at the start of this year, in certain cases over 100 percent, before reducing to approximately 30 to 51 percent after trade talks.
Vietnamese goods, on the other hand, face a much steadier and easier-to-predict tariff environment. The majority of product groups are grouped in the 20 percent band, and Vietnam does not have to deal with the extra surcharges that beset China.
For example, Chinese furniture now carries extra costs with multiple duties: 25 percent Section 301, 20 percent fentanyl-related, and another 10 percent temporary tariff. These surcharges make Chinese imports more costly and less competitive.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese furniture, textile, and footwear industries remain cost-competitive. Most of these products face duties in the 15–20% range, far lower than the combined tariffs on Chinese goods. This gives Vietnam a clear advantage in pricing and predictability. For US importers, that means lower landed costs, easier budgeting, and better supply chain planning over the long term.
Things to Watch Out For When Sourcing from Vietnam
A few small but worthwhile things can save you from falling into unexpected traps when it comes to tax compliance and customs:
- Keep an eye on the new tariff rates. Goods made in Vietnam are at 20%, while goods transshipped through Vietnam face 40%. Always check the real origin of your products to avoid issues with the updated rules of origin.
- Check HS codes carefully. Accurate classification ensures you do not pay the wrong duty, facilitates clearance with customs easily, and prevents fines. It also allows you to check if your products are eligible for preferential tariffs under FTAs.
- Pay attention to supplier transparency. Validate documents, certificates, and factory audits to confirm that the goods are truly made in Vietnam and not merely relabeled to avoid higher tariffs.
- Have records available for audits. Maintain contracts, invoices, certificates of origin, and shipping documents up to date. This will not only save you time but also stress if regulators or customs request an audit in the future.
Tip: Employ a reliable local sourcing agent in Vietnam. On your behalf, they can visit factories, check for business licenses, and verify that production does indeed take place within Vietnam.
Streamline Importing Products from Vietnam with VinaSources
Even if this is your first time sourcing from Vietnam, you’re in safe hands with VinaSources by your side. We are a one-stop platform for Vietnam sourcing, and our aim is to make the process simple and reliable because we handle the heavy lifting for you. All the exporters in our network are pre-verified, so you don’t have to spend weeks checking business licenses, certificates, or factory information.
Here’s how we support you step by step:
- Tell us what you need. Share the product category, quantity, quality requirements, or even your target price.
- We gather and compare quotes from trusted suppliers, then bring you the best options.
- We take care of the rest, from tariff updates to factory audits, quality inspections, export paperwork, shipping, tracking, and even warehousing.
Want to see how easy it can be? Just send us an RFQ and we’ll get you started right away.