Ocean Freight Services Vietnam 2026 – FCL, LCL
International ocean freight from Vietnam demands stable space allocation, direct contracts with major carrier alliances, and fast port evacuation at destination. Blank sailings, equipment shortages and surprise destination fees are the three risks that hurt shippers most — and all three are mitigated by working with an asset-backed forwarder rather than a broker.
AlphaTrans moves over 8,000 TEUs a year through direct service contracts with Maersk, MSC, ONE, COSCO, CMA CGM, Evergreen and HMM, integrated with our own in-house customs brokerage and a 65-truck container fleet.
1. Our Ocean Freight Services
Full Container Load (FCL). Direct container allocations (20’DC, 40’DC, 40’HC, reefers) under tier-1 service contracts — space stays stable even during peak-season spikes.
Less than Container Load (LCL). Weekly direct consolidations from major Vietnamese ports to global hubs, with minimal handling to reduce transit damage risk.
Open Top, Flat Rack & Out-of-Gauge (OOG). Specialized equipment for heavy machinery and oversized structures — see our dedicated project cargo service for full turnkey handling.
Door-to-Door multimodal. Factory floor to destination warehouse under EXW, FOB, DDU or DDP, combining ocean transit, customs and last-mile trucking in one contract.
2. Why AlphaTrans Instead of a Broker
- Direct carrier contracts. We bypass secondary brokers; you get contract rates and priority loading with Maersk, MSC, ONE, COSCO, CMA CGM, Evergreen and HMM.
- Own drayage fleet. 65 tractor trucks and 200 trailers with dedicated 3,000 m² yards serving Cat Lai (HCMC) and Binh Duong. Containers leave the terminal immediately after discharge — before Demurrage & Detention (DEM/DET) starts compounding.
- 7 port-adjacent branches. 350 logistics professionals across HCMC, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Dung Quat provide same-day physical intervention at any major custom house or terminal.
we provide professional freight forwarding services and cargo forwarding solutions designed to simplify international shipping
3. Primary Shipping Lanes and Transit Schedules
Weekly direct and transshipment departures from Cat Lai (HCMC), Cai Mep deep-sea terminals (Vung Tau), Hai Phong and Da Nang.
3.1 North America and Latin America
| Destination | Port | Carrier | Sailings | Transit (days) |
| USA | Los Angeles / Long Beach | COSCO | Fri, Sun | 26–28 |
| USA | Long Beach | MSC | Sun | 28–30 |
| USA | New York | COSCO | Thu | 28–30 |
| Canada | Vancouver (via Hong Kong/Xingang) | TS Lines | Wed, Fri | 35–39 |
| Canada | Vancouver (via Yantian) | MSC | Tue, Fri | 35–38 |
| Mexico | Ensenada (via Shekou/HK) | WHL | Tue, Fri | 30–35 |
3.2 Oceania, Africa and Middle East
| Destination | Port | Carrier | Sailings | Transit (days) |
| Australia | Melbourne / Sydney | PIL | Wed, Sun | 12–14 |
| New Zealand | Auckland / Tauranga | ZIM | Wed, Sun | 12–15 |
| South Africa | Cape Town | EMC | Mon, Tue | 40–45 |
| South Africa | Durban | MSC | Mon, Fri | 35–45 |
| Egypt | Sokhna / Alexandria | EMC | Mon, Sat | 45–50 |
| Bangladesh | Chittagong (via Singapore) | OOCL | Mon, Fri | 13–15 |
3.3 Southeast Asia
| Destination | Port | Carrier | Sailings | Transit (days) |
| Singapore | Singapore | OOCL | Fri, Sun | 2–3 |
| Malaysia | Port Klang | OOCL / MCC | Thu, Sat | 1–5 |
| Thailand | Bangkok / Laem Chabang | SNK / Namsung | Thu–Sun | 2–3 |
| Indonesia | Jakarta / Semarang / Surabaya | OOCL / COSCO | Sun, Wed | 5–10 |
| Cambodia | Sihanoukville / Phnom Penh | SITC | Fri, Sun | 2–5 |
| Philippines | Manila / Cebu | EMC / OOCL | Sun, Tue | 7–11 |
| Myanmar | Yangon | COSCO / MCC | Mon, Sat | 7–9 |
3.4 East Asia (Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea)
| Destination | Port | Carrier | Sailings | Transit (days) |
| Japan | Tokyo / Osaka / Nagoya / Kobe / Yokohama | KMTC | Tue, Thu | 6–7 |
| China | Shekou / Shanghai / Ningbo | COSCO / KMTC | Mon–Sun | 3–9 |
| China | Xiamen / Qingdao / Tianjin | COSCO / MCC | Sun–Fri | 6–14 |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | COSCO | Sun, Wed | 2–3 |
| Taiwan | Taichung / Keelung / Kaohsiung | OOCL / YML | Mon–Sat | 3–5 |
| Korea | Busan / Incheon | SNK / Heung-A | Tue, Thu, Sun | 7–8 |
Schedules, allocations and transit times are baseline references only. Canal rerouting (e.g., Red Sea/Cape of Good Hope), blank sailings and carrier changes cause real-time fluctuations — contact us for live space validation and spot rates.
Detailed lane guides: China–Vietnam · Hong Kong–Vietnam · Japan–Vietnam.
4. Transparency Checklist: Local Port Charges
To avoid surprise fees, every AlphaTrans quote itemizes the standard local charges:
- THC (Terminal Handling Charge) — port loading/unloading operations
- Documentation Fee — B/L issuance or Delivery Order processing
- Seal Fee & Telex Release Fee — seal validation, electronic release
- CIC / EBS — carrier surcharges during equipment imbalances
- CFS Fee — LCL only, for stuffing/stripping at the Container Freight Station
5. Step-by-Step Execution
- Booking & equipment — space locked with the carrier; clean, seaworthy containers pulled on confirmation.
- Factory drayage — our own trucks position the container at your facility for loading.
- Export customs — our licensed brokers file electronically and clear the cargo at the port gate.
- Ocean transit & tracking — automated milestone notifications throughout the voyage.
- Arrival & evacuation — delivery order, destination clearance, and immediate terminal drayage to avoid storage fees.
- Last-mile delivery & POD — container positioned at your warehouse; transparent document closeout.
Container vessel loading ocean freight at Cai Mep deep-sea terminal Vietnam
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How do I minimize DEM/DET charges at Vietnamese ports? DEM/DET builds up through documentation errors, slow clearance or late trucking. Because AlphaTrans combines a licensed customs team with a 65-truck fleet, we initiate clearance before the vessel berths and pull containers off the terminal immediately after discharge.
Q2: FCL vs. LCL — how do I choose? FCL gives your goods an exclusive container — best above ~15 CBM or for high-value cargo needing minimal handling. LCL pools smaller volumes (1–15 CBM) in a shared container at a lower cost.
Q3: How are volatile freight rates managed in peak season? Through long-term service contracts (NAC) with major lines: they shield corporate clients from sudden peak season surcharges (PSS) and guarantee physical container allocation during high-volume periods.
7. Need Space or a Rate Matrix for a Tender? Get a Formal Rate Sheet in 15 Minutes
Contact AlphaTrans today to request a free quotation and experience seamless international shipping with one of Vietnam’s leading ocean freight forwarders.
