All Ports
CargoPilot®
Get Started
Cai Mep (Vung Tau)
Vietnam
VNVUT
Moderate
Congestion Status
AIS limited in region
7d1 at anchor
Stable
Trend
10 Apr 2026
Updated 30d ago

Port Intelligence — What freight teams need to know

Cai Mep is Vietnam's deep-water port — the only Vietnamese port that can handle the largest container vessels without lightering. 2-day wait times during congestion observed, but yard utilization at 75% is much healthier than Cat Lai's 90%+. This is the premium option for mainline reefer services into/out of Southern Vietnam.

Weekly Operational Update
Moderate

Week of 10 April 2026 · slightly_disrupted

Vessels at Anchor — 4-week trend

—22–28 days ago
—15–21 days ago
—8–14 days ago
1Last 7 days
Situation is stable
Customs Reality at Cai Mep (Vung Tau)
7d
Published free time
5d
Effective free time

Same as HCMC ports.

Demurrage: $20/TEU/day · Detention: $12/TEU/day

Common Rejection Reasons

  • Same as HCMC
Cold Chain Reality at Cai Mep (Vung Tau)
Mitigation:Schedule trucking during off-peak. Ensure genset for road transit.
Failure point:Inland road transport to HCMC
Significance:High for mainline deep-water services. Better option than Cat Lai for reefer.
Primary failure mode:80km trucking to HCMC after discharge. Road conditions variable.
Reefer plug availability:Good — 75% yard density leaves headroom
Alternative Ports to Cai Mep (Vung Tau)

If disruption makes Cai Mep (Vung Tau) unviable for your cargo

Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai)VNSGN
Save $80/TEU
40 nm away+0h wait
Works for: Direct HCMC delivery. No trucking cost.
Not for: When Cat Lai yard exceeds 90% and reefer plugs are tight.
CargoPilot®

Cargo Intelligence Platform

Know exactly what's happening to your cargo — before it becomes a problem.

CargoPilot applies deep AI analysis to every shipment moving through Cai Mep (Vung Tau) — surfacing risks, customs traps, and delay patterns your freight team would otherwise miss.

  • AI-powered risk analysis on every shipment
  • Port disruption alerts delivered before they hit
  • Customs, demurrage & detention intelligence

First 3 shipments free. No credit card required.

Live AIS Vessels

AIS coverage limited at this port. The free AIS tier has restricted coverage in some regions, particularly mainland China ports and parts of the Middle East.

Terminal Intelligence
CMIT (Cai Mep International Terminal)
Operator: APM/Vinalines
Typical wait: 1d
Yard occupancy: 75%
Deep-water. Yard at 75% — healthy.
TCIT (Tan Cang Cai Mep Terminal)
Operator: Saigon Newport
Typical wait: 1d
Handles large mainline vessels.
Recommendation: Both terminals well-managed. Yard density significantly better than Cat Lai. Preferred for reefer.
Money Traps at Cai Mep (Vung Tau)
Trucking cost to HCMC
80km distance adds $60-100/TEU in trucking vs Cat Lai direct.
Only worth it if Cat Lai congestion or reefer plug issues make Cat Lai riskier.
Seasonal Patterns
Jun-Nov (Monsoon)
Heavy rain affects road conditions for HCMC trucking.
Buffer transit times during monsoon.

Sources

Port intelligence: CargoPilot curated research

Privacy Policy