How much does it cost to move from Japan to Vietnam?

Two separate budgets. The international removal itself is quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — sea freight is the default for a full household, air only for small or urgent loads. Separately, you need settling-in cash on arrival: a deposit, first month's rent and a buffer, which for Ho Chi Minh City is around VND 84,100,000. Get a firm shipping quote below; the settling-in figure is from our cost data.

Should I ship by sea or air to Vietnam?

Sea freight is typically 50–70% cheaper than air but takes weeks; it's the standard choice for a flat or house. Air makes sense only for a few boxes you need immediately. Most movers ship the bulk by sea and fly with essentials.

When should I exchange the deposit money?

Before you move. A 2-month deposit in VND is roughly JPY 224,000 at today's mid-market rate — sending it with a specialist that uses the real rate avoids the 3–5% margin most banks hide in the exchange.

Japan→

Vietnam

Cost of moving from Japan to Vietnam

Moving to Vietnam from Japan? An international move on this route has two costs: the removals quote (priced on volume and mode) and the settling-in cash you need on arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. We break down both below.

Data signals

The real cost of landing in Vietnam

Cash to land in Ho Chi Minh City
Beyond the shipping quote, the cash you need on arrival — a 2-month deposit, your first month's rent, and a month of essentials — comes to roughly 84,100,000 VND in Ho Chi Minh City.
Deposit in your home currency
The 2-month rental deposit (~36,000,000 VND) is about 224,000 JPY at today's mid-market rate — move it before you go to avoid a bank's exchange margin.
Housing dominates the move
Housing — deposit plus first month's rent — is about 64% of the upfront cash needed to settle in Vietnam, far more than the one-off freight cost for most moves.

Cash on arrival

What you need to settle in Ho Chi Minh City

Deposit (2 months)

36,000,000 VND

First month's rent

18,000,000 VND

One month of essentials

30,100,000 VND

Total to land

84,100,000 VND

excludes shipping

Settling-in figures are derived from our cost-of-living data for Ho Chi Minh City(housing + essentials). The shipping quote is separate — see below. Data as of 2026-05-28.

How removals are priced

Shipping by volume and mode

International removals are quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — not a flat fee. Sea freight is the default for a full household; air is for small, urgent loads only. Use this to size your move, then get a firm quote:

Household	Typical volume	By sea	By air
Studio / 1-bed	10–18 m³	4–8 weeks	3–10 days
2-bed flat	20–35 m³	5–9 weeks	5–12 days
3–4 bed house	40–70 m³	6–12 weeks	by sea only

Volumes and transit windows are industry-standard reference ranges; the price depends on your exact volume, port access and season — get a real quote below.

Move Japan → Vietnam: quotes & money transfer

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FAQ

How much does it cost to move from Japan to Vietnam?: Two separate budgets. The international removal itself is quoted on volume (m³), distance and mode — sea freight is the default for a full household, air only for small or urgent loads. Separately, you need settling-in cash on arrival: a deposit, first month's rent and a buffer, which for Ho Chi Minh City is around VND 84,100,000. Get a firm shipping quote below; the settling-in figure is from our cost data.
Should I ship by sea or air to Vietnam?: Sea freight is typically 50–70% cheaper than air but takes weeks; it's the standard choice for a flat or house. Air makes sense only for a few boxes you need immediately. Most movers ship the bulk by sea and fly with essentials.
When should I exchange the deposit money?: Before you move. A 2-month deposit in VND is roughly JPY 224,000 at today's mid-market rate — sending it with a specialist that uses the real rate avoids the 3–5% margin most banks hide in the exchange.