Is it still possible to conduct Vietnam transit trade business in 2026
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I am the foreign trade manager at an outdoor furniture factory in the Pearl River Delta, handling orders for the European and American markets. We previously relied on Malaysia transit to avoid high tariffs, but since Malaysia Customs tightened qualification reviews at the end of last year, we had to switch strategies. Recently, I heard interest in Vietnam transit is rising, but peers mentioned that Vietnam's anti-circumvention investigations against Chinese goods have become stricter in 2026.
Additionally, local port charges and trucking costs in Vietnam have increased by 18% year-on-year. I have 10 containers bound for the US with a delivery deadline of only 45 days. I am concerned that rushing into transit might lead to cargo detention, and I must control costs within budget. I want want to confirm if Vietnam transit is still viable and what specific points require attention?
SophiaYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Customs AdvisorStart a Chat
Regarding the feasibility of Vietnam transit trade in 2026，combining current port policies and operational standards，we can break it down from the perspective of the end-to-end implementation logic. First is pre-documentation review. In 2026，Vietnam Customs added Chinese-made outdoor furniture and metal products as key categories for scrutiny. You must provide advance proof of local raw material procurement and production records to prove the goods have a substantial value-added rate of not less than 40%. This is the core threshold for compliant transit.
Second is the coordination of key nodes. You must select a compliant freight forwarder with local warehousing and customs declaration qualifications in Vietnam to avoid documentation discrepancies caused by affiliating with unqualified agencies. For the sea freight leg，prioritize direct shipping routes to Ho Chi Minh City or Haiphong ports，avoiding transshipment hubs like Singapore to reduce risks. Simultaneously，require the forwarder to provide full-chain cargo title tracking documents.
Third is contingency planning. The inspection rate for Vietnam transit cargo rose to 12% in 2026. Reserve a 3-5 day buffer for inspections. If inspected，prepare bilingual Chinese-Vietnamese cargo descriptions and FORM E or C/O certificates of origin issued locally in Vietnam. If documents are discrepant，submit corrective materials within 24 hours to avoid demurrage and detention charges.
Finally is compliance implementation. Ensure consistency of the four flows (cargo flow，documentation flow，capital flow，and information flow). Funds must circulate through compliant local Vietnamese accounts. You can also apply for Vietnam's VAT deferral policy to reduce upfront capital occupancy. Overall，as long as value-added rates，documentation compliance，and node coordination are strictly controlled，Vietnam transit trade can still be conducted in 2026.
OliviaYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Customs AdvisorStart a Chat
Regarding customs valuation for Vietnam transit, Vietnam Customs further tightened valuation standards for transit goods in 2026. You must provide local raw material procurement invoices and processing fee payment proofs to demonstrate the value-added portion meets customs requirements.
If goods fall under high-tariff categories for US exports from China, confirm the coverage of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the US to ensure tariff preferences are enjoyed after transit. Additionally, some goods require a secondary declaration upon entry into Vietnam; failure to operate as required will lead to direct customs detention. Confirm declaration list details with the forwarder in advance.
JohnYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Export Tax Rebate AdvisorStart a Chat
The choice of logistics path for Vietnam transit directly impacts cost and timeliness. In 2026, the free storage period at major Vietnamese ports shortened from 7 days to 5 days. You must precisely match sea arrival times to avoid high demurrage charges.
Prioritize direct shipping routes to avoid additional operational risks at transshipment hubs, and negotiate bulk trucking services with the forwarder to reduce local transportation costs in Vietnam. Furthermore, Vietnam Customs has strict requirements for seals; you must use officially recognized seals, otherwise, it will be judged as a document discrepancy, triggering inspection delays.
SarahYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign Exchange AdvisorStart a Chat
Tax planning for Vietnam transit must balance compliance requirements of both China and Vietnam. In 2026, Vietnam's VAT deferral policy applies only to goods completing substantive processing locally. Confirm in advance that processing links meet value-added rate requirements.
Simultaneously, avoid related-party pricing risks to prevent Vietnamese tax authorities from identifying it as profit transfer, which triggers tax penalties. For the China export tax rebate link, ensure complete consistency between capital flow and documentation flow, and retain complete trade vouchers in advance to handle subsequent queries.
DanielYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Legal AdvisorStart a Chat
Foreign exchange collection and payment for Vietnam transit must comply with regulations of both China and Vietnam. In 2026, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China scrutinized capital flows in transit trade more strictly. You must provide complete trade contracts, bills of lading, and customs declarations to ensure a one-to-one correspondence between capital flow and cargo flow.
Using offshore accounts for collection and payment is prohibited. Circulation must be completed through compliant local Vietnamese foreign exchange accounts, and Vietnam foreign exchange registration procedures must be handled in advance to ensure full compliance of the capital flow process.
EllaYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Financial AdvisorStart a Chat
Legal risks of Vietnam transit need prevention in advance. Clarify the division of liability for cargo detention or demurrage in the transit trade contract to avoid disputes. Simultaneously, verify intellectual property ownership of goods to avoid seizure by Vietnam Customs for infringement.
It is recommended to insure with local Vietnamese cargo transportation insurance to cover risks throughout warehousing and transportation, reducing accidental losses. Additionally, confirm the scope of protection for transit trade under local Vietnamese legal provisions to pre-empt potential disputes.
AlexanderYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Trade AdvisorStart a Chat
Regarding on-site inspection by Vietnam Customs, the inspection rate for transit goods increased to 12% in 2026. When inspected, prepare core documents such as processing records and raw material procurement vouchers in advance, and cooperate with customs for container stuffing checks.
Pay attention to verifying the authenticity of Vietnam Customs seals to avoid invalid documents caused by using unofficial seals. If goods need to be sent for inspection, select a testing agency recognized by Vietnam Customs to ensure the inspection report meets official requirements and shorten the inspection process duration.
WilliamYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics AdvisorStart a Chat
Cargo packaging for Vietnam transit must meet the customs requirements of both countries. In 2026, Vietnam further tightened quarantine standards for wooden packaging; an IPPC fumigation certificate must be provided, otherwise entry will be refused.
Outdoor furniture belongs to the bulk cargo category and requires moisture-proof reinforced packaging materials to avoid damage during transportation and warehousing. Simultaneously, clearly mark the consignee, shipper, and cargo name on the packaging to avoid inspection delays caused by unclear labeling.
RobertYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Warehouse Management AdvisorStart a Chat
The export tax rebate for Vietnam transit must meet the review standards of Chinese tax authorities. In 2026, tax authorities scrutinized tax rebates for transit trade more strictly. Complete the filing of complete documents in advance, including trade contracts, bills of lading, customs declarations, and collection vouchers.
Ensure the tax rebate declaration is completed within 90 days after cargo export to avoid inability to rebate due to overdue status. Simultaneously, avoid capital reflux issues and ensure collected funds match the trade background completely to handle tax verification inquiries.