Trade terms
Minimum Order for Bronze Altar Sets from Vietnam
What is the real minimum order for bronze altar sets from a Vietnamese foundry, and how order value, piece count and mixed items decide a first buy.
We do not set a minimum per item. The minimum is set by the value of the whole order, so a first order can mix altar sets, statues and vessels in one shipment instead of forcing you to take a carton of each. Everything is cast to order in 21–30 days, which is exactly why a per-piece MOQ makes little sense for us: a mould is made for each pour whether you want four pieces or forty. Send a line list and we tell you in two working days whether it works as it stands.
Do you have a fixed MOQ?
Not per piece. Factories that press or die-cast set a per-item minimum because a tool has to earn its cost on every run. Sand casting by hand works the other way: each piece gets its own mould, so the cost of one extra item in the order is the metal and the hours, not a new tool. What does have a floor is the order as a whole — the paperwork, crating and export documents cost the same for a small order as for a large one.
Why the minimum is set by order value
- An altar shop wants a few sets in three sizes, not a hundred of one size. A value floor allows that.
- A gallery wants one large statue and a handful of vessels. A piece count would treat that as a tiny order when it is not.
- A distributor mixing finishes and sizes across one crate list pays the same export cost per shipment whatever the mix.
- It keeps the conversation honest: we look at your line list, not at a rule written for somebody else.
Three ways a first order usually looks
| Order shape | Suits | What can be in it | Sample first? | Casting time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trial order | Altar shops and galleries testing a new source | A few sets in two or three sizes, a statue or vessel alongside | Recommended — photographs or a sample piece before the balance | 21–30 days |
| Regular order | Shops reordering what sold, distributors restocking | Mixed items and finishes on one crate list | Not needed if the finish codes repeat | 21–30 days |
| Container order | Distributors, importers, project buyers | Full range, packed to use the container by weight | Only for new designs | 21–30 days per batch, then sea time |
Can I mix sizes and items in one order?
Yes, and most buyers should. Mix sizes of the same set, mix altar pieces with statues, mix finishes. The one rule we ask you to keep: buy a five-piece set complete in one batch, because patina goes on by hand and a candlestick from a later batch will read slightly differently beside the rest. Why that happens is explained in our guide to repeat orders and batch matching.
How many pieces are in a five-item altar set?
A Vietnamese five-piece set (ngũ sự) is one incense burner, a pair of cranes and a pair of candlesticks — five pieces, one line on your order. The cranes stand 5–7 cm taller than the burner and the candlesticks 12–15 cm shorter, so the sizes are fixed as a family. A size-65 set weighs about 36 kg, which matters more for freight than for the minimum. How to read the sizes is in reading a Vietnamese altar set, and the range is on altar bronzeware.
What changes between a trial order and a repeat order
- The trial order carries the checking: photographs against the quotation, or a sample, before the balance is paid.
- The repeat order is quoted from the record of the first — item, size, finish code, engraving — so it moves faster.
- A small repeat is usually combined with new items so the shipment still makes sense.
Deposit and balance work the same way on both; the forms of payment are on our trade terms page and the reasons behind them in payment terms for made-to-order bronze.
What if my first order is below the minimum?
Tell us anyway. Sometimes it can be combined with another shipment, sometimes a sample order makes more sense first, and sometimes it simply does not work by sea and we will say so plainly rather than quote something that costs you more in freight than in bronze.
Frequently asked questions
Is the minimum per item or per order?
Per order. There is no per-item MOQ; the floor is the value of the whole order.
Can I order a single set for display?
A single display set is best added to a larger order or sent as a sample. On its own it rarely justifies sea freight.
Can I mix altar sets with statues in one order?
Yes. Items, sizes and finishes can all be mixed on one crate list.
Is the minimum lower for repeat orders?
Repeat items are quoted from your order record and are usually combined with other lines, so a small repeat is rarely a problem. Send the list and we will confirm.
What form does the deposit take?
A bank transfer deposit before casting, balance before shipment after you have seen the photographs. Amounts are set on the quotation, not on this page.
Not sure whether your first order is big enough? Send the line list through the request a quote form or on WhatsApp at +84 926 199 999. A quotation comes back in two working days.