Vietnam logistics ports guide for exporters and importers

Vietnam logistics ports guide basics: Vietnam ships most sea cargo through two clusters, Hai Phong in the north and the Ho Chi Minh City area in the south. Pick the one closest to your factory or buyer. Then check the ship size you need, because depth decides which terminals can take big vessels.

The short answer: north or south

Hai Phong serves Hanoi and the factories of the Red River delta. The southern cluster serves Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai. Cargo trucked a short way to a port costs less than cargo trucked far. So the first question is where your goods start or end.

The second question is the route. Ships that sail to Europe and North America are large. They need deep water. In the south, the Cai Mep and Thi Vai area is built for those ships. In the north, the older river terminals sit far up a river. Smaller ships often feed larger ones at a hub port.

The third question is the cargo. Containers, bulk goods and general cargo use different berths. Ask your forwarder which berth handles your type of cargo.

Sources: Vietnamese Wikipedia, "Cảng Hải Phòng", and Wikipedia, "Ba Ria-Vung Tau province", for the port roles and vessel sizes described here.

The northern cluster: Hai Phong

Hai Phong is a port group on the Cam River. The French built the port in 1874. It is one of the oldest general seaports in Vietnam. Its main sites include Hoang Dieu, Chua Ve, Dinh Vu and Tan Vu.

Hoang Dieu is the old central wharf near the city. It is the main wharf and was once known as Ben Sau Kho. Chua Ve began in 1993. It was the first dedicated international container terminal in northern Vietnam. It has five berths and a depth of about 8.4 metres alongside. Dinh Vu began operating in 2002 with two berths. Tan Vu followed in 2008 as a dedicated container terminal.

Depth is the limit on a river port. A shallow channel means smaller ships, so ask the terminal what vessel size and draft it can take. Ask about newer deep water berths on the coast near Hai Phong too, and confirm with the terminal which ones are open to your cargo.

Sources: Vietnamese Wikipedia, "Cảng Hải Phòng", for the 1874 founding, the Hoang Dieu, Chua Ve, Dinh Vu and Tan Vu sites, their opening years and the 8.4 metre depth at Chua Ve.

The southern cluster: Cat Lai, Cai Mep and Thi Vai

The south has two layers. Cat Lai is inside the Ho Chi Minh City area. It is close to the factories and the warehouses, so many export boxes start their trip here.

Cai Mep and Thi Vai sit in Ba Ria Vung Tau province, which is around 70 kilometres from Cat Lai. This is the deep water complex. It can handle vessels of about 190,000 deadweight tonnes. Ships of this size can serve long ocean routes. Shippers who want these larger ships may need to move boxes from the city by truck or barge.

The trade off is simple. Cat Lai is closer to the factory. Cai Mep is closer to the big ships. A forwarder can price both options and tell you which is cheaper door to door.

Sources: Wikipedia, "Ba Ria - Vung Tau province", for the Cai Mep and Thi Vai complex, the 190,000 deadweight tonne capability and the 70 kilometre distance of the province from Cat Lai.

Other ports worth knowing

Da Nang sits in the middle of the coast. Its Tien Sa seaport is described as the third largest in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. It suits cargo from central Vietnam. Other ports on the coast include Hong Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Nghi Son and Dung Quat. Many of these serve a single big industrial site, so check what each one handles before you plan around it.

Cam Ranh is a deep water bay with a long history of naval use. Do not assume it offers commercial container service.

Sources: Wikipedia, "Transport in Vietnam", for the ports list and the Da Nang ranking.

How to choose a port in five steps

Use this list before you book.

• Mark where the cargo starts or ends. Choose the nearest cluster.
• Check the ship size on your route. Long ocean routes need deep water.
• Ask whether a direct sailing exists, or whether the cargo changes ship at a hub.
• Compare trucking or barge cost with the ocean freight rate. Add both.
• Ask your forwarder about berth waiting time and customs steps at each port.

Rates, schedules and port rules change often. Confirm each one with your forwarder or the terminal operator before you commit to a shipment.

Planning rules behind the ports

The national government sets the long term plan for seaports. Decision 2190/QD-TTg of 2009 approved the national seaport system plan to 2020. Government plans like this shape where port investment goes. If you plan to build a warehouse or a factory near a port, read the current plan for that area first.

Sources: Vietnamese Wikipedia, "Cảng Hải Phòng", for Decision 2190/QD-TTg approving the seaport plan to 2020.