Cai Mep – Thi Vai to Piraeus by sea

Routing

From Cai Mep – Thi Vai the usual routing passes Singapore Strait, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb, Suez Canal before reaching Piraeus.

Both direct services and transshipment options are offered on this route; transshipment typically connects in Singapore, Port Klang.

Alternative routing: Via Cape of Good Hope

Avoiding the Red Sea and Suez, the voyage around the Cape of Good Hope is about 12,960 nm (+6,690 nm) and takes roughly 32–38 days on a direct service.

Since early 2024, attacks on merchant ships around Bab-el-Mandeb led most carriers to divert Asia–Europe, Asia–Mediterranean and some Asia–US East Coast services around the Cape of Good Hope, adding roughly 3,000–3,500 nm and about 7–14 days depending on the route and service speed. Some carriers have since tested or resumed Suez transits on selected services. Routing is decided per service by each carrier, so check the current routing when you book.

Straits and canals on this route

• Singapore Strait Busy strait at the southern end of the Malacca route, next to the Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas and Batam hubs.
• Strait of Malacca The main sea link between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, used by most Asia–Europe, Middle East and South Asia services.
• Bab-el-Mandeb Strait between Yemen and Djibouti/Eritrea at the entrance to the Red Sea; attacks on shipping since late 2023 led many carriers to divert around Africa.
• Suez Canal Canal linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean; the shortest route between Asia and Europe, with transit fees and convoy scheduling.

About this trade lane: Asia – Mediterranean

Vietnam to Piraeus, Genoa, Barcelona, Valencia and other Mediterranean ports via Suez, or via the Cape and Gibraltar.

Asia–Mediterranean services normally enter the Med through the Suez Canal; while Red Sea diversions apply, many services reach the region via the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Gibraltar, often using hubs such as Tanger Med, Algeciras or Piraeus.

Distances are the sum of great-circle legs between waypoints along the usual sea lanes, through the relevant straits and canals, rounded to the nearest 10 nautical miles. Transit ranges assume a typical service speed of 16–18 knots plus time for intermediate port calls and canal transits; transshipment adds several days for the connection at the hub. Figures are estimates for planning and comparison, not carrier schedules.