Sending food to the USA
Updated Oct 1, 2026 · prices pulled live from the UCargo price list
Bánh tráng (rice paper), coffee, khô mực (dried squid), candied fruit, spices, dietary supplements… these are what Vietnamese families in the US ask for most. UCargo ships dried food to the USA by air (Express Air, delivered by UPS in 4–12 days), with free pickup at your door anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. Below: what you can send, what it costs, and how to pack so your parcel clears US customs smoothly.
Which foods can you send to the USA?
- Dried, pre-packaged food: snacks and sweets, bánh tráng (rice paper), dried rice noodles and phở noodles, instant noodles, coffee, tea, spices, fish sauce in tightly sealed bottles.
- Dried seafood: dried squid, dried fish, dried shrimp — vacuum-sealed and fully dry.
- Dried fruit, candied fruit, cashews, roasted peanuts in labelled packaging.
- Dietary supplements in their original, unopened boxes with an ingredient label.
The USA does not accept food with less than 2 months until its expiry date or fresh produce (vegetables, fresh fruit, fresh meat…). Check the expiry dates before you send.
Items that need a separate service
The Express Air service does not accept food containing meat, eggs or dairy, bird's nest, or seeds. Meat, eggs, dairy and products made from them in particular are prohibited or very strictly limited by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) — customs may confiscate them. If you need to send any of these, ask first: our team checks each case and accepts them only through the restricted-goods service when the shipment meets the rules.
Sea: ideally 12–22kg per parcel, packed in cartons; food, loose batteries and tobacco not accepted.
That is why food for the USA should go by air — it is fast and compliant.
Cost of sending food to the USA
Price = freight by weight + food surcharge 50,000₫/kg (air). For 20kg and over, Express Air starts from just 310,000₫/kg. See every weight bracket in the Ship to the USA price list.
Example: sending 5kg of dried food to California (Express Air — California): freight 2,126,000₫ + goods surcharge 250,000₫ — estimate 2,376,000₫.
Example: sending 10kg of dried food to Texas (Express Air — Other states): freight 4,340,000₫ + goods surcharge 500,000₫ — estimate 4,840,000₫.
Estimate only, excluding VAT; our team confirms the final price after weighing the actual parcel.
How to pack food
- 1Keep the original labelled packaging; for homemade food, vacuum-seal it and write the name of the item in English.
- 2Bottles and jars (fish sauce, chili sauce…): put them in zip bags, tape the lids, place them in a foam box, then into the carton.
- 3Each air parcel is 22kg max; fill every gap so nothing shifts.
- 4Write a list of the items and quantities — declaring goods by their correct names helps them clear customs faster.
See the detailed guide on how to pack parcels for international shipping.
Need a quote for your goods?
Tell the UCargo assistant what you're sending and the weight — get an estimate in seconds, with pickup at your door in HCMC.
Shipping rates to the USA ›Frequently asked questions
Can I send rice paper and coffee to the USA?
Yes. They are packaged dried goods and go by Express Air with a food surcharge of 50,000₫/kg.
Can I send food containing meat (lạp xưởng sausage, chà bông pork floss, beef jerky) to the USA?
Meat and meat products are prohibited or very strictly limited by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and may be confiscated. They cannot go by Express Air — ask UCargo first so our team can check your case.
How long does it take to send food to the USA?
Express Air is delivered by UPS in about 4–12 days (working days).
Can I send food by sea?
No — the sea service to the USA does not accept food.