Step 1: Inspect the device and photograph its condition

Before you start packing, clean the device and check the whole surface carefully. Plug it in to make sure the TV still works properly, with no lines or colour blotches.

• Take detailed photos of all four sides, the front, the back and the serial number on the back.
• Record a short video of about 30 seconds clearly showing the screen working.
• Remove all accessories such as the stand, plastic clips, power cable, remote control and batteries. Never leave batteries in the remote, as they can leak or catch fire during the flight.

These photos and videos are the strongest evidence when dealing with an insurer or carrier if the device is accidentally damaged.

Step 2: Pack the inner layer with bubble wrap and shock-absorbing foam

TV screens are very sensitive to pressure. The first layer of protection absorbs direct impacts.

• First, wrap 2–3 layers of PE stretch film lightly around the device to protect the casing and screen from scratches.
• Next, cut a piece of rigid cardboard to cover the front of the screen as a direct shield.
• Wrap at least 3–4 layers of bubble wrap around the whole TV. Reinforce the four corners, which take the most force when knocked.
• If possible, use a PU spray foam (self-expanding foam). Spray the foam into large plastic bags and place them around the corners of the TV inside the first carton. The foam expands to fit the device’s shape exactly, creating a perfect gap-free cushion.

Step 3: Double-box it in a wooden crate for full protection

For large-screen electronics such as TVs, using only an ordinary carton is extremely risky. You must double-box it with an outer wooden frame.

• First layer: Put the wrapped TV in a well-fitting carton and fill the gaps with packing peanuts or foam sheets so it can’t move when shaken.
• Second layer: Measure the packed carton, then build a wooden frame or closed wooden box around it. Leave a gap of about 2–3 cm between the carton and the crate, filled with thick moulded foam sheets.

At Soleil Transportation, basic packing in a carton is free. For special items such as TVs that need a wooden crate, we can advise on and carry out the crating for a surcharge based on the device’s actual size.

Step 4: Declare used electronics to customs

When shipping a used TV to Canada, the customs declaration must be accurate so it isn’t held for long inspections or charged unreasonable duties.

• The declaration must state clearly: Used Electronics, with the brand and screen size (for example, Used Samsung TV 55 inch).
• State its estimated remaining value. Don’t declare far more than a used item is really worth, but don’t declare an unreasonably low value either, as customs may become suspicious and hold it for revaluation.
• Have the device’s basic technical specifications ready in case they are needed.

On our Vietnam to Canada air routes, the shipping rate normally includes all import duties, so the recipient in Canada doesn’t have to handle complicated clearance procedures themselves.

Step 5: Choose a shipping service and track the journey

Once packed, choosing a dedicated Canada carrier with clear tracking is the last step before you can relax and wait for delivery.

• Average air transit time from Vietnam to Canada is 7–14 business days, depending on the delivery location.
• Soleil Transportation’s dedicated air service from Vietnam to Canada starts at $16/kg.
• Right after shipping, you’ll receive a tracking number. You can follow the parcel’s journey online with automatic updates by email, SMS or Zalo.

If you need to send a TV, computer monitor or other personal items to family in Canada, call +1 888-998-5199 or email the size and weight of the device to info@soleiltransportation.com for crating advice and the most accurate quote.

This article walks you step by step through preparing, dismantling, wrapping and crating these items to Canadian customs (CBSA) standards so they arrive intact.

Step 1: Remove moving and sharp parts

Whether it’s a medium-sized model or a larger version, a mini cyclo or rickshaw has parts that bend easily under pressure in an aircraft hold. Before packing, do the following:

• Remove the wheels and handlebars: If they are held on with screws, take off the wheels and handlebars. This makes the parcel smaller and saves on shipping.
• Bag the small parts: Put all screws, washers and small chains in a sealed zip bag and tape it to the frame so nothing gets lost.
• Secure moving parts: For parts that can’t be removed, such as a fabric or plastic canopy or pedals, use cable ties to fasten them tightly to the frame so they can’t move freely in transit.

Step 2: Wrap in PE film and bubble wrap against scratches

The frame is usually powder-coated or lacquered. If it rubs directly against the carton or a wooden crate, the finish will scratch immediately and the decoration will lose its appeal.

• First layer – PE film: Wrap 2–3 layers of PE stretch film around the whole frame, especially the sharp corners and welds. This protects the finish from dust and damp.
• Second layer – bubble wrap: Wrap sensitive parts such as wheel spokes, leather seats and handles thickly in bubble wrap. Tape the edges firmly with wide tape.
• Third layer – corner foam: On the sharp points of the cyclo (such as the mudguard tips or footrests), add thick foam blocks or foam corners so they can’t pierce the carton.

Step 3: Crate it, and the important plant health rules

Because decorative cyclos and rickshaws aren’t box-shaped, an ordinary carton is easily crushed when stacked. The safest option is a wooden crate or a pallet.

However, Canada’s plant health authorities very strictly control imported wood products to keep out foreign pests. Follow these rules:

• Crate materials: Never use raw, untreated natural wood for the crate frame or padding. Use plywood or pressed wood instead. These have been heat- and chemically treated, so they are exempt from quarantine in Canada.
• Treating natural wood: If you must use pine or other natural wood for the crate, it must be fumigated and stamped to ISPM 15 standards (with a clear IPPC mark on the wood). Without this mark, Canadian customs will refuse clearance and require the goods to be destroyed or returned, at great cost.

Step 4: Measure the parcel and calculate the cost

When shipping to Canada by air, the charge is based on the actual weight or the volumetric weight, whichever is greater. The standard international air freight formula is:

Volumetric weight (kg) = (Length x Width x Height) / 5000 (in cm).

Decorative cyclos are usually light but take up a lot of space. Dismantling them neatly in Step 1 greatly reduces the width and height of the crate, saving you anywhere from tens to hundreds of dollars in shipping.

Soleil Transportation offers door-to-door air shipping to Canada from $16/kg (import duties included). Average transit time from Vietnam to Canada is 7–14 business days.

Mistakes to avoid when shipping handmade decorations to Canada

• Not filling the gaps: Many people put the cyclo in a crate without foam around it. When the plane shakes or the crate is handled, the cyclo knocks against the wooden sides and breaks.
• Declaring the wrong value: Declaring a value far below the real value of a handicraft can make customs hold the goods and ask for the actual purchase invoice.
• Missing recipient details: Make sure the recipient’s phone number in Canada works so the driver can contact them for door-to-door delivery.

Before packing, photograph the cyclo with its three dimensions and send them to Soleil Transportation on +1 888-998-5199 or at info@soleiltransportation.com. Our team at the Mississauga warehouse (2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario) will advise you on the best way to crate it and give you an accurate all-in quote.

This article walks you step by step through preparing, dismantling, packing and declaring food processing machines shipped from Vietnam to Canada by air.

Step 1: Remove the motor and deal with the oil

This is the most important step in whether the airline accepts your shipment. The motors of meat grinders and bread machines often use lubricating oil or contain strong magnets.

• Drain all oil: Before packing, drain all lubricating oil from the shaft or gearbox. Airports and airlines strictly prohibit flammable liquids. If any leaking oil is found, the whole parcel will be returned immediately.
• Separate the electrical parts: For grinders with separate motors, remove the motor from the frame. This reduces the risk of damage to the shaft and makes it easy to secure the heaviest part at the bottom of the box.
• Clean off residue: Used machines must be cleaned thoroughly, with no meat scraps, flour or grease left on the outside, so Canadian inspectors don’t refuse entry.

Step 2: Prepare labels and check electrical safety

Canadian customs (CBSA) controls imported electrical equipment very closely for fire safety.

• Electrical specifications: Canada uses 110–120V at 60Hz, while most machines made in Vietnam use 220V. Add a label stating the machine’s voltage. If it has a built-in converter, note this on a secondary label.
• Clear labelling: The machine should have a label showing its name, power (W or HP), operating voltage and place of manufacture (Made in Vietnam). Missing technical labels can make customs suspect a homemade, unsafe machine and hold it for longer inspection.

Step 3: Crate the machine for protection

Food machinery usually has stainless steel or steel housings that dent easily or knock the shaft out of alignment if stacked under other cargo. On Soleil Transportation’s dedicated route, ordinary goods include basic packing in a carton. However, for heavy, special items such as machinery, you must use a wooden crate for safety.

• Wrap against scratches: Wrap the machine tightly in at least 3–5 layers of PE stretch film to protect the stainless steel surface.
• Add shock-absorbing foam: Place the machine in the centre of the crate with thick foam sheets on all six sides so it can’t move when lifted.
• Use a slatted or closed wooden crate: For heavy meat grinders or bulky bread machines, use a slatted crate or a closed wooden box. Leave a gap under the wooden base for straps or a forklift. Crating or palletising carries a surcharge based on the actual size.

Step 4: Declare to customs and ship

When shipping machinery, you must declare the correct name and purpose of the goods so the right duty code is applied. At Soleil Transportation, our Vietnam to Canada service includes all import duties, so you don’t need to worry about surprise charges on arrival.

• Transit time: Air shipments from Vietnam to Canada usually take 7–14 days (about 7–12 business days on average depending on the delivery province).
• Rates: Two-way Vietnam–Canada air shipping starts at $16/kg. For bulky machinery, the chargeable weight is based on the greater of the actual weight and the volume of the crate after packing.
• Tracking: After shipping, you’ll receive a tracking number to follow the machine online from the warehouse in Vietnam to delivery in Canada.

Before packing a machine, photograph its technical specifications, measure its three dimensions (length, width, height) and weigh it. Call +1 888-998-5199 or email the details to info@soleiltransportation.com and our team will check whether your model needs any special parts removed, so you can prepare the shipment correctly at home.

To make sure your valuable items arrive in Canada intact, here is the right packing process and how to work out the real cost before you ship.

How to pack a Kymdan mattress and wooden furniture to export standards

For these two items, packing accounts for 90% of their safety on the 7 to 14 day flight from Vietnam to Canada.

1. Kymdan latex mattresses

A Kymdan natural latex mattress is very heavy and flexible. Shipped at full size, it would be extremely expensive because it takes up so much space.

• Vacuum-pack it: This step is essential. The mattress goes into a thick, purpose-made plastic bag and a powerful vacuum removes all the air, flattening it as much as possible.
• Roll and secure it: After vacuum-packing, the mattress is rolled up tightly and taped. This cuts its volume by 3 to 4 times.
• Box it: The rolled mattress is placed in a sturdy carton. At Soleil Transportation, basic packing in a carton is included in the service.

2. Wooden furniture

Wooden tables, chairs, altar cabinets and wooden artwork often have sharp corners and are easily scratched or cracked by knocks.

• Wrap in PE film and bubble wrap: All wooden surfaces, especially corners and edges, must be wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap to absorb shocks.
• Crate or palletise it: Heavy, valuable or fragile wooden items (such as table legs and chair arms) must be packed in a slatted wooden crate or on a wooden pallet. Note: the wood used for crates sent to Canada must be treated or engineered wood, otherwise Canadian customs (CBSA) may refuse entry because of pest concerns.
• Surcharges: Crated, oversized or palletised goods carry a surcharge on top of the basic shipping cost.

How shipping is charged by actual volume

Many customers ask why a mattress that weighs only 40 kg is charged as 80 kg. In air freight, the chargeable weight is the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight.

The standard air freight formula for volumetric weight is:
Volumetric weight (kg) = (Length x Width x Height) / 5000 (all measurements in centimetres)

Real example:
You ship a Kymdan mattress that, after rolling and boxing, measures 120 cm long, 60 cm wide and 60 cm high. The box actually weighs 35 kg.

• Volumetric weight: (120 x 60 x 60) / 5000 = 86.4 kg.
• Comparison: 86.4 kg (volumetric) is greater than 35 kg (actual), so the airline charges for 86.4 kg.

Soleil Transportation’s two-way Vietnam–Canada air freight starts at $16/kg (import duties included). Vacuum-packing your Kymdan mattress as tightly as possible directly saves you hundreds of dollars in freight.

How to ship a mattress or furniture from Vietnam to Canada

To keep things simple, just follow these steps:

1. Get advice and a quote: Send photos of the item with its approximate dimensions (length, width, height) and weight for an estimated quote.
2. Pickup and packing in Vietnam: Soleil Transportation offers pickup at your door. We vacuum-pack your mattress and professionally crate your furniture.
3. Final measurement and payment: Once everything is packed at the warehouse, we take the final measurements, send you photos to confirm and issue the invoice. You can pay by bank transfer, credit card, Interac e-Transfer or cash.
4. Shipping and tracking: Your goods fly to Canada in 7 to 12 business days on average. You can track the journey online with your order number or receive updates by email, SMS or Zalo.
5. Door delivery in Canada: Once cleared, your goods are delivered door-to-door to your home in Canada.

Before you decide to pack and ship, measure your items roughly and call +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com. Our team will help you work out the most space-efficient way to pack them.