Sea route · Asia – North Europe
Hai Phong to Rotterdam by sea
Typical routing, approximate distance and estimated transit time for ocean freight from Hai Phong to Rotterdam.
- 9,690 nm
- Via Cape of Good Hope · 13,210 nm
- Approx. distance
- 9,690 nm (≈ 17,950 km)
- Transit (direct service)
- 25–30 days
- Transit with transshipment
- 28–37 days
- Pure sailing time at 16–18 knots
- 22.4–25.2 days
- Main straits & canals
- Singapore Strait, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Gibraltar, Strait of Dover
- Service pattern
- Usually via transshipment
Routing
From Hai Phong the usual routing passes Singapore Strait, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Gibraltar, Strait of Dover before reaching Rotterdam.
Cargo on this route is usually transshipped, typically in Singapore, Hong Kong, which adds time for the connection but gives more sailing options.
Alternative routing: Via Cape of Good Hope
Avoiding the Red Sea and Suez, the voyage around the Cape of Good Hope is about 13,210 nm (+3,520 nm) and takes roughly 33–38 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.
- Strait of Gibraltar Gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, with the Algeciras and Tanger Med hubs on either side.
- Strait of Dover One of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, between the English Channel and the North Sea.
About this trade lane: Asia – North Europe
Vietnam to Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Felixstowe and Le Havre via Malacca and Suez, or around the Cape of Good Hope.
Asia–North Europe is a core East–West trade lane. Routing via the Suez Canal or around the Cape of Good Hope depends on the carrier’s current network and security assessment for the Red Sea.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How long is shipping from Hai Phong to Rotterdam?
About 25–30 days port to port on a direct service, for an approximate sea distance of 9,690 nautical miles. Add time for inland transport, customs and any transshipment.
Are there direct services from Hai Phong to Rotterdam?
Usually not — cargo is typically transshipped in Singapore, Hong Kong. Direct options can appear seasonally; we check current schedules when quoting.
How much longer is the route around the Cape of Good Hope?
Via the Cape of Good Hope the voyage is about 13,210 nm, roughly 3,520 nm more than via Suez, or about 33–38 days on a direct service.
How can I get a freight rate from Hai Phong to Rotterdam?
Send Global Logistic Group your cargo type, volume (FCL or LCL), ready date and Incoterms®; we will compare carriers and send an all-in 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.