Same package. Different courier. Up to ₫15,000 difference per shipment.
The rate gap between Vietnam’s most affordable and most expensive standard-service couriers on the HCMC–Hanoi route reaches ₫8,000–₫15,000 per package, based on published rate cards as of May 2026. At 100 orders daily, that difference is ₫25–45 million monthly. This guide compares GHN, GHTK, J&T Express, and Ninja Van — the four couriers Vietnam ecommerce sellers use most.
How Do Vietnam’s Top Four Ecommerce Couriers Compare?
No single courier wins every route. GHN leads on Shopee VN and Lazada VN integration with the widest urban coverage. GHTK offers the lowest base rates for economy-tier shipments. J&T Express Vietnam delivers the fastest COD settlement at 3–5 days. Ninja Van Vietnam adds SLA-backed tracking for sellers prioritizing delivery reliability over cost. Most sellers shipping 50+ orders per day run two couriers.
Courier choice drives your margin in Vietnam ecommerce. Rate differences between GHN standard and GHTK economy services can exceed ₫10,000 per shipment on the HCMC–Hanoi corridor. At scale, those differences compound monthly.
Rate data is sourced from official courier websites (GHN, GHTK, J&T Express Vietnam, Ninja Van Vietnam) as of May 2026. Rates are per-kg base rates for standard service to a 1 kg package. Actual rates vary based on weight tiers, declared dimensions, and negotiated seller-tier agreements.
| Courier | Standard Rate (HCM→HAN, 1 kg) | COD Fee | COD Settlement | National Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GHN | ₫32,000–40,000 | 1.5–2% | 5–7 days | Excellent |
| GHTK | ₫25,000–32,000 | 1.5% | 5–7 days | Good |
| J&T Express | ₫30,000–38,000 | 2% | 3–5 days | Good |
| Ninja Van | ₫38,000–50,000 | 2% | 3–5 days | Moderate |
COD fees calculated on declared item value. Settlement days are business days from delivery confirmation, per each courier’s published terms as of May 2026.
Why Is GHN the Default Courier for Shopee VN Sellers?
GHN (Giao Hang Nhanh, “Fast Delivery,” founded 2012) is a Vietnamese domestic courier operating across all 63 provinces, with the deepest native integration on Shopee Vietnam and Lazada Vietnam. Its pickup network in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi reaches most urban and peri-urban districts within a 4–6 hour window, making it the practical default for sellers who need volume, coverage, and marketplace sync without complex setup.
For Shopee VN sellers, GHN’s native integration means label printing, pickup scheduling, and tracking sync happen directly from the Shopee Seller Center — no separate courier portal required.
Key strengths:
- Native Shopee VN and Lazada VN integration — label generation and tracking without separate courier login
- Widest urban pickup network in HCMC and Hanoi — most districts covered within 4–6 hours
- Multiple service tiers: Express (1–2 days HCMC–Hanoi), Standard (2–4 days), Economy (3–5 days)
- Strong provincial coverage including Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hue) and Mekong Delta
Limitations:
- Standard rates are not the cheapest — GHTK undercuts on economy-tier shipments by ₫6,000–₫10,000 per package
- COD settlement at 5–7 days is slower than J&T and Ninja Van
- Peak-season handling (11.11 campaigns, Tet) can extend delivery by 1–2 days on high-volume routes
Pricing (May 2026, selected routes, per kg base rate):
| Route | Express | Standard | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCMC → Hanoi | ₫40,000–48,000 | ₫32,000–40,000 | ₫25,000–30,000 |
| HCMC → Da Nang | ₫30,000–35,000 | ₫25,000–30,000 | ₫20,000–25,000 |
| HCMC → Can Tho | ₫22,000–26,000 | ₫18,000–22,000 | ₫15,000–18,000 |
| HCMC intra-city | ₫18,000–22,000 | ₫15,000–18,000 | N/A |
Additional weight charged per 1 kg increment above base. Dimensional weight applies for oversized packages.
Best for: Sellers running primary volume on Shopee VN or Lazada VN who need national coverage and marketplace sync without separate logistics contracts.
Source: GHN
Does GHTK Offer the Lowest Rates for Vietnam Ecommerce?
GHTK (Giao Hang Tiet Kiem, “Economical Delivery,” founded 2013) is a Vietnamese logistics company that consistently undercuts competing couriers on economy-tier rates. For a 1 kg HCMC-to-Hanoi shipment, GHTK’s economy service typically prices ₫6,000–₫10,000 below GHN standard. At 50 daily orders, that gap is ₫9–15 million monthly. The trade-off is a 3–5 day standard window versus GHN’s 2–4 day standard.
GHTK built its position on cost, not speed. Sellers in fashion, household goods, and FMCG use GHTK because per-package savings offset the slower delivery time. Buyers in lower price brackets on Shopee VN accept longer windows when shipping is cheaper.
Key strengths:
- Lowest published base rates for economy-tier domestic shipments in Vietnam
- Strong Shopee VN integration — direct label generation and tracking for sellers
- Growing TikTok Shop VN integration as the platform expands its logistics partnerships
- Lowest COD fee of the four couriers at 1.5% of declared item value
Limitations:
- Slower standard delivery — 3–5 days HCMC–Hanoi versus GHN’s 2–4 days and J&T’s 2–4 days
- Coverage thinner in remote provinces — Central Highlands and far northern provinces may see extended transit
- COD settlement at 5–7 days matches GHN’s slower pace
Pricing (May 2026, selected routes, per kg base rate):
| Route | Standard | Economy |
|---|---|---|
| HCMC → Hanoi | ₫28,000–35,000 | ₫22,000–28,000 |
| HCMC → Da Nang | ₫22,000–28,000 | ₫18,000–22,000 |
| HCMC → Can Tho | ₫18,000–22,000 | ₫14,000–18,000 |
| HCMC intra-city | ₫15,000–18,000 | ₫12,000–15,000 |
Best for: High-volume sellers where per-package cost is the primary optimization — particularly categories where buyers accept 3–5 day delivery (household items, apparel, beauty) and where long-haul HCMC–Hanoi is not the dominant route.
Source: GHTK
How Does J&T Express Vietnam Compete on COD and Speed?
J&T Express entered Vietnam in 2018 as part of its Southeast Asia expansion. Its strongest advantage for Vietnamese ecommerce sellers is COD settlement speed — funds typically clear in 3–5 business days, two days faster than GHN and GHTK’s published 5–7 day timelines. For sellers with working capital pressure, faster COD remittance improves cash flow without changing order volume or courier fee structure.
J&T’s pricing model — competitive volume-based rates and deep marketplace integration — applies in Vietnam as in Indonesia and the Philippines, with direct Shopee VN and Lazada VN integration.
Key strengths:
- Fastest COD settlement of the four couriers — 3–5 business days from delivery confirmation
- Shopee VN and Lazada VN native integration
- Competitive standard rates between GHTK standard and GHN standard pricing
- Growing pickup network in secondary cities (Vung Tau, Bien Hoa, Nha Trang)
Limitations:
- Higher COD fee at 2% versus GHTK’s 1.5%
- Provincial coverage still building in remote northern Vietnam and Central Highlands
- Handling quality concerns on fragile goods noted in seller community feedback — better suited for non-fragile categories
Pricing (May 2026, selected routes, per kg base rate):
| Route | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|
| HCMC → Hanoi | ₫30,000–38,000 | ₫42,000–52,000 |
| HCMC → Da Nang | ₫24,000–30,000 | ₫35,000–42,000 |
| HCMC → Can Tho | ₫18,000–22,000 | ₫26,000–32,000 |
| HCMC intra-city | ₫20,000–24,000 | ₫28,000–35,000 |
Best for: Sellers with heavy COD volume who need faster fund remittance. At 100 COD orders averaging ₫300,000 item value, J&T’s 3–5 day settlement delivers ₫30 million two days faster than GHN’s cycle.
Source: J&T Express Vietnam
Shipping costs eating into your Vietnam ecommerce margins? See the full breakdown of domestic rates and how to reduce per-package costs — Vietnam ecommerce shipping cost guide. Free. No signup.
When Does Ninja Van Vietnam Justify Its Premium Rate?
Ninja Van Vietnam (part of Singapore’s Ninja Van Group) operates at higher base rates than GHN, GHTK, and J&T, but distinguishes itself on SLA-backed delivery commitments and granular real-time tracking. Ninja Van’s tracking system provides seller-facing and buyer-facing status updates more detailed than any of the three domestic couriers — relevant for premium product categories where communication quality reduces dispute rates and protects review scores.
Ninja Van entered Vietnam as a technology-first logistics provider — delivery certainty and tracking quality justify its higher rates for sellers where those attributes protect margins.
Key strengths:
- Most granular real-time tracking — buyers receive automated notifications at each delivery stage
- SLA-backed delivery commitments with compensation protocols for late deliveries
- Lower reported dispute and loss rates on premium product categories per seller community feedback
- Shopee VN and Lazada VN integration; API access for custom ecommerce platforms
Limitations:
- Highest base rates of the four couriers — ₫38,000–₫50,000 for HCMC–Hanoi versus GHTK’s ₫25,000–₫32,000
- Pickup density thinner than GHN outside of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
- Not cost-effective for high-volume, low-margin categories where cost-per-shipment drives profitability
Pricing (May 2026, selected routes, per kg base rate):
| Route | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|
| HCMC → Hanoi | ₫38,000–50,000 | ₫55,000–68,000 |
| HCMC → Da Nang | ₫30,000–38,000 | ₫42,000–52,000 |
| HCMC → Can Tho | ₫22,000–28,000 | ₫30,000–38,000 |
| HCMC intra-city | ₫25,000–30,000 | ₫35,000–45,000 |
Best for: Sellers in premium categories — electronics, cosmetics, high-margin fashion — where delivery confirmation and dispute resolution quality directly affect review ratings on Shopee VN or Lazada VN.
Source: Ninja Van Vietnam
What COD Strategy Should Vietnam Ecommerce Sellers Use?
COD (cash on delivery, or thanh toán khi nhận hàng) accounts for an estimated 60–70% of Vietnamese ecommerce transactions, according to the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM). COD return rates in Vietnam average 10–20%, varying by product category and buyer tier. At a 15% rejection rate on a ₫200,000 order shipped via GHN, a seller loses approximately ₫60,000–₫80,000 in round-trip shipping costs plus COD fee — on zero revenue.
COD is the default payment method for millions of Vietnamese buyers — but also the primary driver of shipping cost overruns.
The full COD cost equation:
- COD fee: 1.5–2% of declared item value, charged regardless of acceptance
- Return shipping: full outbound plus inbound cost on rejected packages
- Settlement delay: 3–7 business days before funds clear, tying up cash
- Restocking: returned items require inspection, repackaging, and relisting
Reducing COD rejection rates: Sellers who send a Zalo message before dispatch — tracking number plus “your order ships today” — report rejection rates dropping from 15–20% to 8–12%, based on seller community reports. The message costs nothing.
Choosing the right COD courier by priority:
- GHTK wins on fee percentage at 1.5% for sellers whose primary concern is minimizing per-order COD cost
- J&T Express wins on cash flow — 3–5 day settlement returns funds two days faster than GHTK and GHN
- GHN wins on confirmation rate — its buyer notification system reduces non-acceptance in urban areas
For the full Vietnam shipping cost breakdown, see the Vietnam ecommerce shipping cost guide.
Which Vietnam Ecommerce Courier Is Right for Your Business?
GHN is the default for Shopee VN and Lazada VN sellers who need broad national coverage and seamless marketplace sync. GHTK wins on per-package cost for high-volume, economy-tier shipments. J&T Express Vietnam is the strongest choice when COD cash flow matters — its 3–5 day settlement is faster than GHN and GHTK. Ninja Van Vietnam is the premium option for categories where tracking quality and delivery SLAs protect seller ratings.
No single courier wins across all scenarios. The choice depends on which cost drivers matter most for your product category, route distribution, and COD volume.
Match courier to business profile:
| Business Profile | Recommended Courier |
|---|---|
| Shopee VN or Lazada VN primary, all routes | GHN |
| High volume, economy category (apparel, FMCG) | GHTK |
| Heavy COD volume, cash flow pressure | J&T Express |
| Premium products, dispute-sensitive category | Ninja Van |
| 200+ orders per day, mixed routes | GHN + GHTK (split by route) |
Most sellers shipping 100+ orders daily use two couriers: GHN for Shopee VN volume and national coverage, GHTK for economy routes where the rate gap justifies the extra setup. The savings — ₫6,000–₫12,000 per shipment on GHTK versus GHN standard — make dual-courier operations standard practice.
For setting up your packaging to minimize dimensional weight charges across all four couriers, see the ecommerce packaging guide for Vietnam.
Ready to optimize your Vietnam shipping costs? See the full courier rate breakdown and packaging tips — ecommerce packaging guide for Vietnam. Free. No signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which courier is cheapest for ecommerce in Vietnam?
GHTK (Giao Hang Tiet Kiem) consistently offers the lowest published rates for economy-tier domestic shipments. For a 1 kg HCMC-to-Hanoi shipment, GHTK economy typically runs ₫22,000–₫28,000 versus GHN standard at ₫32,000–₫40,000. The trade-off is slower delivery at 3–5 days versus GHN’s 2–4 day standard, making GHTK best for categories where buyers accept longer windows.
Which Vietnam courier has the fastest COD settlement?
J&T Express Vietnam typically settles COD funds in 3–5 business days from delivery confirmation, compared to GHN and GHTK’s published 5–7 day settlement period. Ninja Van Vietnam also targets 3–5 day settlement. Faster remittance matters most for sellers with tight restocking cycles — two fewer days in the settlement cycle means funds available earlier per batch.
How do I integrate GHN or GHTK with Shopee Vietnam?
Both GHN and GHTK integrate natively with Shopee VN through the Shopee Seller Center. In Seller Center, navigate to Shipping Settings, activate your preferred courier, and the platform handles label generation, rate calculation, and pickup scheduling. Shopee VN’s bulk rate agreements typically provide better per-package pricing than independent seller contracts for volumes under 500 shipments per day.
What is the best courier for TikTok Shop Vietnam?
TikTok Shop VN has expanded its logistics partnerships with GHN and GHTK as the primary integrated options. For sellers using TikTok Shop VN’s built-in shipping, GHN’s coverage and integration depth makes it the practical default. J&T Express is building out TikTok Shop VN integration as of mid-2026. Check your TikTok Shop VN seller settings for the current logistics partner list.
Should I use one courier or multiple couriers for Vietnam ecommerce?
Sellers under 50 orders per day typically use one courier — GHN for Shopee VN integration and national coverage. At 50–200 orders per day, splitting volume between GHN for primary marketplace routes and GHTK for economy routes generates per-package savings of ₫6,000–₫12,000. The dual-courier setup adds operational overhead but monthly savings justify the effort at higher volumes.
Keep Reading
- Vietnam Ecommerce Shipping Cost Guide — full breakdown of domestic rates, weight tiers, and how to cut per-package costs
- Best Courier for Ecommerce in Vietnam — hub covering all Vietnam courier and shipping guides
- Ecommerce Packaging Guide for Vietnam — reduce dimensional weight to compound your courier savings