Container gateway · Vietnam
Port of Cai Mep – Thi Vai
Cai Mep – Thi Vai is a container gateway on the South China Sea in Vietnam (Southeast Asia). Below: key facts, how it connects with Vietnam and what to prepare when shipping through it.
Key facts
- Country / territory
- Vietnam
- UN/LOCODE
- VNCMT
- Port type
- Container gateway
- Region
- Southeast Asia
- Waters
- South China Sea
- Coordinates
- 10.53°N, 107.02°E
- Container throughput
- No verified figure published here
About the port of Cai Mep – Thi Vai
Cai Mep – Thi Vai is Vietnam’s main deep-water gateway in the south, located on the Thi Vai and Cai Mep rivers roughly 80 km from central Ho Chi Minh City (the area formerly in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province became part of Ho Chi Minh City in 2025).
Its container terminals — including TCIT, TCTT, SSIT, CMIT and Gemalink — can receive some of the largest ships calling in Southeast Asia. This makes it the main Vietnamese port for direct mainline services to the US West and East Coasts and to Europe, although each carrier’s network changes from season to season.
The port mainly serves export manufacturing in the Ho Chi Minh City region, Binh Duong and Dong Nai. Containers reach it by road and by barge from inland depots, and empty equipment is often repositioned from Cat Lai.
Cai Mep – Thi Vai is a container gateway: most boxes handled are imports and exports for its own hinterland, carried on mainline and regional services.
Sea routes and transit times from Vietnam
Estimated port-to-port distances and transit times on typical routings. Actual schedules depend on the service and its port rotation.
Shipping lines
Carriers often associated with services through Cai Mep – Thi Vai that are relevant to Vietnam (indicative only — networks change every season):
- MSC
- Maersk
- CMA CGM
- COSCO Shipping Lines
- OOCL
- Hapag-Lloyd
- ONE
- Evergreen
- HMM
- ZIM
- Yang Ming
- PIL
- Sealead
- Emirates Shipping Line
Customs and documentation tips
- Export and import declarations in Vietnam are lodged electronically via the VNACCS/VCIS system; prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, contract and bill of lading.
- Check whether goods require specialised inspection, licences or quarantine before arrival or loading, as this affects clearance time at the port.
- If you claim preferential tariffs, prepare the certificate or self-certification of origin under the relevant FTA (e.g. ATIGA, RCEP, CPTPP, EVFTA).
- Confirm free time for containers at the terminal and depot to avoid demurrage and detention charges.
- Declare the verified gross mass (VGM) of each export container before the carrier’s cut-off.
Frequently asked questions about Cai Mep – Thi Vai
Where is the port of Cai Mep – Thi Vai?
Cai Mep – Thi Vai is in Vietnam, on the South China Sea, in the Southeast Asia shipping region.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Cai Mep – Thi Vai?
The UN/LOCODE commonly used for Cai Mep – Thi Vai is VNCMT. Check the exact terminal or location code required by the carrier when booking.
What documents are needed to ship via Cai Mep – Thi Vai?
Usually a sales contract, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and an electronic customs declaration via VNACCS, plus any licences, inspections or certificates of origin that apply to the goods.
Can Global Logistic Group arrange shipping to or from Cai Mep – Thi Vai?
Yes. We arrange FCL and LCL ocean freight, customs clearance and inland transport for Cai Mep – Thi Vai through our carrier contracts and agent network. Send us your cargo details for a quote.
Information on this page is general guidance compiled by Global Logistic Group from public sources. Port facilities, carrier networks, routings and transit times change frequently; always confirm current schedules, cut-offs and requirements with us or the carrier before booking. Data as of October 2026.