The cheapest ocean rate does not always give the cheapest delivered cost. The right port depends on where the goods end up.
The main options
| Gateway | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Fastest from Vietnam; most services; huge warehouse market | Peak-season congestion; long rail/truck haul to the East |
| Seattle / Tacoma | Alternative West Coast gateway; rail to Midwest | Fewer direct sailings |
| New York / New Jersey | Closest to North-East consumers | Longer all-water transit; canal/route disruptions |
| Savannah | Fast-growing South-East hub; Atlanta access | Longer transit; hurricane season |
| Houston | Texas and Gulf region | Longer transit; hurricane season |
A simple rule
- Final destination west of the Rockies → West Coast.
- Midwest → West Coast + rail, or Seattle — see US intermodal.
- East Coast / South-East → compare all-water vs West Coast + rail on total cost and time.
Route pages: Los Angeles · Seattle · New York/NJ · Savannah · Texas.