How U.S. Supplier Pricing Becomes Landed Cost in Vietnam

We regularly see Vietnamese importers evaluate a U.S. supplier based on the quoted unit price alone, then find the deal doesn't work once the shipment actually lands. The quote is only the starting point.

What typically sits between quote and landed cost

• International freight, which varies significantly by mode, volume and route
• Cold-chain or special handling costs, where applicable
• Vietnam import duties and taxes specific to the product category
• Customs clearance and documentation fees on both ends
• Insurance
• Domestic transportation to your final warehouse
• Currency conversion and any related banking costs

A supplier's price that looks 15% cheaper than a competitor's can end up more expensive on a landed-cost basis once these are added — particularly for products with strict cold-chain or documentation requirements. Before committing to a supplier, it's worth building a real landed-cost comparison rather than comparing quoted prices side by side.