Timing can change your freight bill as much as the carrier you choose. US retailers buy months ahead of their selling seasons, and Asian factories close for Lunar New Year — two forces that create predictable peaks on the Vietnam–US lane.
The annual shipping calendar
| Period | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| December – January | Rush to ship before Tết; space tight, rates rise | Book 6–8 weeks ahead; finish production early |
| Tết (late Jan – Feb) | Factories and many services pause 1–3 weeks; carriers cancel sailings | Plan stock to cover the gap |
| March – May | Usually the quietest period; rates often soften | Good time to negotiate and ship base stock |
| June – September | Main peak: back-to-school, Halloween and holiday stock | Lock in space and rates by early summer |
| October – November | Last ocean departures for Christmas; air freight demand jumps | Switch late orders to air or accept January arrival |
Key deadlines for holiday goods
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday stock should be in US warehouses by early November — meaning ocean departures from Vietnam by about mid-September for the West Coast.
- Amazon FBA sets its own inbound cut-offs before Q4; late arrivals can miss the selling window entirely.
- Christmas: last practical ocean departures are usually in October; after that, air freight is the main option.
Peak season surcharges and how to limit them
- Forecast early: share a 3-month volume forecast with your forwarder.
- Ship base stock in the quiet months (March–May) and top up later.
- Fill your containers to spread higher rates over more units — see FCL vs LCL.
- Keep documents ready so cargo is not rolled to a later vessel.
- Watch tariff deadlines — announcements often create mini-peaks outside the normal season.
Don't forget Canada
Canadian peaks follow a similar pattern, but winter weather can slow rail transit from Vancouver to Toronto and Montreal. Add buffer time for Q4 and January deliveries. See shipping to Canada.
Planning your peak season? Send us your forecast and we'll propose a shipping schedule and routing to the USA and Canada.