Hai Phong port is the sea gateway for Hanoi and northern Vietnam, and it handled over 8.2 million TEU in 2025, up more than 16%. Large ships now call at the Lach Huyen deep-water terminals on an island east of the city, while smaller ships still use the river berths at Hoang Dieu, Chua Ve, Tan Vu and Dinh Vu. This guide explains the terminals, the cargo, the port's customs basics and how to ship from Dubai to Hai Phong. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Hai Phong, and from Hai Phong to Dubai.
Hai Phong port: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Hai Phong city, about 90 km east-southeast of Hanoi |
| UN/LOCODE | VNHPH |
| Container throughput 2025 | Over 8.2 million TEU, up more than 16% on 2024 |
| Total cargo 2025 | Over 115 million tonnes |
| World ranking | 26th in the Lloyd's List Top 100 container ports 2026 |
| Deep-water area | Lach Huyen, on Lach Huyen island about 40 km east of the city |
| Lach Huyen share of 2025 containers | Nearly 29% |
| Lach Huyen container berths | Berths 1 to 6 operating, 7 to 10 under construction |
| Largest ships at Lach Huyen | Up to 200,000 DWT (about 18,000 TEU) at HHIT |
| River berth limit | About 40,000 DWT, 9.0 m tidal depth |
| Largest port company | Port of Hai Phong JSC, founded 1874 |
| Nearest airports | Cat Bi (HPH) 5 km; Noi Bai, Hanoi (HAN) 130 km |
| Duty on UAE-origin goods | UAE-Vietnam CEPA preferential rates since 3 February 2026 |
| Usual UAE load port | Jebel Ali, Dubai |
| Hai Phong to Dubai | VNACCS export declaration by the exporter or its broker; Dubai Customs declaration, 5% duty on CIF for most goods and 5% import VAT |
What is Hai Phong port and which areas does it include?
Hai Phong is not one quay. It is a port system along the Cam and Bach Dang rivers and out to the coast. Port directories list 16 container terminals under the code VNHPH, run by several companies. They fall into three groups.
| Area | Main terminals | Ships it takes |
|---|---|---|
| City river berths | Hoang Dieu, Chua Ve, Tan Vu (Port of Hai Phong JSC) | Feeder and regional ships, about 40,000 DWT |
| Dinh Vu peninsula | Dinh Vu, Nam Dinh Vu, Nam Hai Dinh Vu, Green Port, VIP Greenport, Tan Cang 128 and 189, PTSC Dinh Vu, Hai An and others | Feeder and regional ships |
| Lach Huyen deep-water area | HICT (berths 1-2), HTIT (berths 3-4), HHIT (berths 5-6) | Mother ships up to 14,000-18,000 TEU |
The Port of Hai Phong JSC is the oldest operator. It was founded in 1874, trades on UPCOM under the code PHP, and runs Tan Vu, Hoang Dieu-Chua Ve and Dinh Vu, plus a share of the HTIT terminal at Lach Huyen.
A rule of thumb: if your booking shows Hai Phong as the discharge port, check the terminal on the arrival notice. A box can land at Lach Huyen, a Dinh Vu terminal or a city berth, and the truck plan is different for each.
Lach Huyen: the deep-water terminals at Hai Phong port
Lach Huyen sits on an island about 40 km east of Hai Phong city and is linked to the mainland by a bridge. The first terminal opened on 13 May 2018. Four more berths came into service in 2025, which lifted the port into the global top 30. In 2025 Lach Huyen handled nearly 29% of Hai Phong's containers, and in the first half of 2026 it handled over 1.37 million TEU and 1,190 ship calls. The city says it runs direct services to Europe and the United States.
| Terminal | Berths | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| HICT (Tan Cang Hai Phong International Container Terminal) | 1 and 2 | 750 m quay, 16 m depth at berth, 14 m access channel, ships up to 14,000 TEU, about 1.1 million TEU a year, 41 ha yard, 6 STS cranes |
| HTIT (Haiphong Port TIL International Terminal) | 3 and 4 | Joint venture of Port of Hai Phong and TIL (MSC group), started in 2025, ships up to 165,000 DWT since May 2025 |
| HHIT (Hateco Hai Phong International Container Terminal) | 5 and 6 | Opened February 2025, 900 m over two berths plus a 200 m barge berth, two ships up to 200,000 DWT at once, 73 ha |
HICT is owned by Saigon Newport Corporation (51%), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (17.5%), Wan Hai Lines (16.5%) and Itochu (15%). Its yard has 28 lanes, including 2 reefer lanes, and it offers reefer services, container repair and barge transport. The first commercial ship at HHIT, on 6 February 2025, was named ESL Dubai.
More berths are coming. Berths 7 to 10 have in-principle approval and are under construction. The 2021-2030 plan aims for 14 to 16 berths at Lach Huyen by 2030, with 5,625 to 6,875 m of wharf and 61.4 to 90 million tonnes of capacity a year.
The river berths: Hoang Dieu, Chua Ve, Tan Vu and Dinh Vu
The older terminals are up the river, close to the city and its industrial zones. They take smaller ships, so most Gulf cargo reaching them has been transshipped at a hub and arrives on a feeder.
| Terminal | Berths | Wharf length | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoang Dieu (main area) | 11 | 1,717 m | About 6 million tonnes of cargo a year |
| Chua Ve | 5 | 848 m | About 550,000 TEU a year |
| Tan Vu | 5 | 1,002 m | Container terminal of Port of Hai Phong JSC |
SHIPNEXT gives a limit of about 40,000 DWT and 9.0 m tidal depth for breakbulk, container and bulk ships at the river berths, and 10,000 DWT for Ro-Ro. The channel is tidal, so berthing times depend on the water. MarineLink notes dredged areas that take ships with drafts of 7.5 to 14 m.
Lach Huyen or a river berth: which fits your cargo?
| Your situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Service from Jebel Ali calls Lach Huyen on a large ship | Lach Huyen | No extra feeder leg |
| Cargo moves via a hub on a feeder | Dinh Vu or a city berth | Feeders often discharge upriver |
| Heavy or oversized pieces needing a large vessel | Lach Huyen | Deep water and large cranes |
| Breakbulk on a general cargo ship | Hoang Dieu or the berth the carrier names | General cargo berths and storage |
| Small LCL consignment | The CFS your consolidator uses | The box is unpacked there, so it sets your pick-up point |
What cargo moves through Hai Phong port?
Hai Phong serves the northern manufacturing belt: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen and Quang Ninh. Electronics, garments, machinery parts and raw materials for these factories dominate the import side. Cargo from the UAE can include plastics and polymers, aluminium and steel products, chemicals, machinery, spare parts and re-exported goods from Jebel Ali.
| Cargo type | How it usually moves | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| General goods | FCL or LCL to Lach Huyen or Dinh Vu | Terminal on the arrival notice, free time, truck booking |
| Plastics and polymers | FCL, palletised or in bags | Correct HS code, CEPA origin for UAE-made resin |
| Steel and aluminium | Containers, flat racks or breakbulk | Weight limits, lashing, discharge berth |
| Machinery and project cargo | Flat rack, open top or breakbulk | Lifting points, road permits for the inland move |
| Chemicals | IMDG containers or ISO tanks | Carrier and terminal acceptance, import permit if needed |
| Chilled and frozen food | Reefer containers | Set temperature, quarantine and food checks |
Should you ship to Hai Phong or to the south?
Pick the port nearest the consignee. Hai Phong serves Hanoi and the north. Ho Chi Minh City and Cai Mep serve the south. A box landed in the south for a factory near Hanoi means a long domestic move by road, rail or coastal feeder, which usually costs more than the ocean saving.
Shipping from Dubai to Hai Phong: FCL and LCL
Most cargo from the UAE to Hai Phong moves in containers from Jebel Ali. Services either call Lach Huyen directly on a large ship or transship at a hub in Southeast Asia and finish on a feeder.
- FCL (full container load). You book a whole 20ft or 40ft box. It is collected from the terminal and reaches the consignee with the seal intact.
- LCL (less than container load). Your cargo shares a box and is unpacked at a container freight station. Release depends on the consolidator's papers and on the other shipments in the box.
With LCL, carton marks must match the packing list or the CFS cannot find your pieces. Our article on FCL vs LCL costs helps you choose, and our sea freight service covers container options from Jebel Ali.
[AMIR-FACT: our real transit time from Jebel Ali to Hai Phong (Lach Huyen or Dinh Vu) in days, and the carriers or services we book on this lane]
Breakbulk, project cargo and dangerous goods at Hai Phong port
For machinery, transformers and steel structures, the first question is whether the piece fits a flat rack. If it does, a container service to Lach Huyen gives you more sailings and big cranes at discharge. If it does not, you need breakbulk or heavy-lift tonnage, usually to a general cargo berth such as Hoang Dieu, and the vessel date drives the plan. Check the inland route too: some factories in the north are reached over roads and bridges with weight limits.
Our guide to flat rack, open top and breakbulk cargo explains the equipment choices, and our break bulk and project cargo service plans the UAE end.
Dangerous goods move under the IMDG Code. Each carrier and each Hai Phong terminal decides which classes it accepts and how long a DG box may stay in the yard, so we confirm acceptance before you commit. You will need:
- UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group.
- A Safety Data Sheet for each product.
- A signed Dangerous Goods Declaration.
- UN-approved packaging, labels and placards.
- Any Vietnamese import permit for the chemical, arranged by the consignee.
Our dangerous goods shipping team handles the DG paperwork and carrier approval on the UAE side.
Customs clearance at Hai Phong port: the short version
Hai Phong follows the same national customs rules as every Vietnamese port. Your consignee, or its customs broker, files the import declaration electronically. The system then assigns a channel.
| Channel | Check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Green | None | Pay duty and taxes, then clearance |
| Yellow | Document check | Submit the documents customs asks for |
| Red | Documents and physical inspection | Present the cargo for examination |
- Documents: declaration, commercial invoice, bill of lading, and where they apply an import licence, inspection certificate and origin documents. Unassembled machinery in HS Chapters 84, 85 and 90 also needs a machinery list.
- Timing: file before arrival or within 30 days after the goods arrive. Late filing can be fined.
- Duty: since 3 February 2026 the UAE-Vietnam CEPA gives UAE-origin goods preferential rates. Vietnam is removing tariffs on 98.5% of UAE-originating goods, so you need a valid certificate of origin.
- VAT: 10% as standard, but most 10%-rated goods are charged 8% at import until 31 December 2026.
For the full Vietnam customs and duty picture, see our Ho Chi Minh port guide and the Vietnam route page once they are live.
How to ship from Dubai to Hai Phong port: step by step
We book space with carriers, prepare documents and handle trucking and export clearance in the UAE. Your consignee or its clearing agent clears the goods in Vietnam.
- Send us the cargo details: description, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, value and Incoterm.
- Confirm the delivery address and the terminal: Lach Huyen, a Dinh Vu terminal or a city berth.
- Check Vietnam's rules with your consignee: licence, specialised inspection and CEPA origin.
- Book space from Jebel Ali Port, with carrier acceptance first for DG, reefer or out-of-gauge cargo.
- Prepare and cross-check the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading.
- Stuff and truck the container to the terminal before the cut-off, and file the UAE export declaration.
- Release the bill of lading as agreed: original, telex release or sea waybill.
- The consignee's broker files the import declaration, pays duty and VAT and collects the delivery order.
- The container is collected, delivered and returned empty within free time.
Our Dubai freight forwarding team runs the UAE side and keeps your Vietnamese consignee informed.
How to ship from Hai Phong to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Hai Phong to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Vietnamese export papers stay with the shipper or its Vietnamese agent.
The Vietnam export side
- Export declaration. Under the procedure set by Vietnam Customs, the exporter declares through the VNACCS system. It registers the data first (EDA), can correct it (EDB) within the allowed period, and then submits the final declaration (EDC). In practice the shipper or its customs broker in Hai Phong does this.
- Channels. VNACCS assigns a green, yellow or red channel. Yellow means a document check; red means the cargo is also presented for physical examination at the terminal.
- Documents. The declaration, the commercial invoice, and where they apply an export licence, an inspection result or the raw timber export statement. Documents that regulators send through the National Single Window do not need to be submitted again.
- CEPA origin. Since 3 February 2026 the UAE removes tariffs on 99% of Vietnamese-originating exports under the UAE-Vietnam CEPA, more than 95% of them at once. The shipper needs a valid certificate of origin under the agreement for the UAE importer to claim it.
The UAE import side
On arrival, the declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and any permit for restricted goods. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes, unless the CEPA rate applies. Import VAT is 5% of the customs value including freight and insurance, and a VAT-registered importer can account for it through the reverse charge on its VAT return. The importer needs a Dubai Customs business code, or clears through a licensed clearing agent.
- Send us the shipper's details in northern Vietnam, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from Lach Huyen or a river terminal and send the booking and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker stuffs the box and delivers it to the terminal inside the cut-off.
- The shipper or its Vietnamese broker files the VNACCS export declaration and gets the CEPA certificate of origin.
- We check the draft bill of lading and track the hub connection.
- We file the UAE declaration before arrival and arrange payment of the duty and VAT.
- We collect the delivery order, truck the box to your site and return the empty inside free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Hai Phong to Jebel Ali/Khalifa/Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]
Moving cargo inland from Hai Phong
Hanoi is about 90 km from the port, and most northern industrial zones sit within a few hours by road. Lach Huyen adds the island leg and the bridge to the trip, while Dinh Vu and the city berths are closer to the Hai Phong industrial parks. Ask the consignee's trucker how long the move to their site takes from each terminal before you choose a service.
What affects the cost of shipping to Hai Phong?
| Cost part | What moves it |
|---|---|
| UAE origin | Trucking to Jebel Ali, export declaration, terminal handling |
| Ocean freight | Direct call at Lach Huyen or transshipment, container type, season |
| Special cargo | DG surcharges, flat rack or breakbulk premiums, reefer |
| Hai Phong charges | Terminal handling, delivery order, CFS fees for LCL |
| Duty and VAT | HS code, CEPA origin, CIF value |
| Inland delivery | Terminal chosen, distance, truck type |
| Delays | Demurrage, detention and storage after free time |
Carriers and terminals each set their own free time. File early and book the truck before arrival. Our article on demurrage and detention explains how these charges build up.
Checklist before you ship to Hai Phong
- Discharge terminal confirmed: Lach Huyen, Dinh Vu or a city berth.
- HS code agreed with the consignee.
- Import licence or specialised inspection arranged if needed.
- CEPA certificate of origin ready for UAE-originating goods.
- Invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading match.
- Consignee's broker ready to file before arrival.
- DG documents and acceptance in place for hazardous cargo.
- Inland route checked for heavy or oversized pieces.
- Free time agreed and cargo insurance arranged.
Common mistakes when shipping to Hai Phong
- Assuming every Hai Phong booking lands at Lach Huyen. A feeder may discharge at Dinh Vu, and the truck plan changes.
- Booking a large breakbulk piece to a river berth with a 40,000 DWT limit. Confirm the berth first.
- Claiming CEPA on goods made outside the UAE. The consignee then faces duty reassessment.
- Mismatched weights or descriptions. This pushes the declaration into a yellow or red check.
- Leaving specialised inspection until arrival. Storage builds up while the box waits.
- Planning on 8% VAT for arrivals after 2026. The reduced rate ends on 31 December 2026 unless extended.
Frequently asked questions
What is the port code for Hai Phong?
The UN/LOCODE for Hai Phong is VNHPH. Individual terminals can have their own codes, so check the terminal named on your booking and arrival notice.
How big is Hai Phong port?
Hai Phong handled over 8.2 million TEU and over 115 million tonnes of cargo in 2025. It ranked 26th in the Lloyd's List Top 100 container ports 2026.
What is Lach Huyen port?
Lach Huyen is Hai Phong's deep-water area on an island about 40 km east of the city. Its six operating container berths, at HICT, HTIT and HHIT, take ships of up to 200,000 DWT.
What is the difference between Lach Huyen and Dinh Vu?
Lach Huyen is the deep-water area for large mainline ships. Dinh Vu is a group of river terminals closer to the city that mostly handle feeder and regional ships.
How deep is the water at Lach Huyen?
HICT has 16 m of water at its berths and a 14 m access channel, and takes ships of up to 14,000 TEU. HHIT can take two ships of up to 200,000 DWT at once.
Can I ship dangerous goods to Hai Phong?
Yes, with the UN number, class, SDS, a signed DG declaration and acceptance from the carrier and terminal. Some chemicals also need a Vietnamese import permit arranged by the consignee.
Is cargo from Dubai to Hai Phong duty-free?
Not automatically. Since 3 February 2026, UAE-origin goods can get preferential rates under the UAE-Vietnam CEPA if they meet the origin rules and carry a valid certificate of origin. Re-exported goods made elsewhere pay normal rates.
Can you handle shipping from Hai Phong to Dubai?
Yes. We book the space from Hai Phong and clear and deliver the cargo in the UAE. The Vietnamese exporter or its broker files the export declaration in VNACCS. Dubai charges 5% duty on CIF for most goods and 5% import VAT, and qualifying Vietnamese goods can claim the CEPA rate.
Should I ship to Hai Phong or Ho Chi Minh City?
Choose by delivery address. Hai Phong serves Hanoi and the northern provinces, and Ho Chi Minh City serves the south. Booking the wrong end means a long domestic move.
Get a quote for shipping to Hai Phong port
Send us your cargo details, the delivery address in Vietnam and the ready date, and we will come back with a routing and price from Dubai to Hai Phong. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a DG, breakbulk or project shipment first.
Sources
- Saigon Newport Corporation: Three Vietnamese seaports in global rankings (Hai Phong 2025 throughput, ranking, Lach Huyen berths)
- Hai Phong Portal: Lach Huyen strengthens Hai Phong's gateway role (2025 cargo, Lach Huyen share, H1 2026)
- Hai Phong Portal: New berths at Lach Huyen (berths 1-10, 2030 plan)
- HICT: Tan Cang Hai Phong International Container Terminal (berths, depth, capacity, owners)
- Wikipedia (Vietnamese): Lach Huyen port (opening date)
- SAFETY4SEA: HHIT starts operations (February 2025)
- Wikipedia: Hai Phong Port (Port of Hai Phong JSC, Lach Huyen location, HTIT, UN/LOCODE)
- Port of Hai Phong JSC: Introduction (units and terminals)
- SHIPNEXT: Haiphong port (river berths, DWT and depth limits)
- MarineLink Ports Directory: Hai Phong (dredged depths)
- Findaport: Port of Hai Phong (location, airports)
- IncoDocs: VNHPH container terminals
- iContainers: Port of Haiphong (hinterland provinces)
- Vietnam Trade Portal (MOIT): Customs procedure for imported goods
- Conventus Law: Official Letter 3461/TCHQ-PC on the 30-day declaration deadline
- UAE Ministry of Economy: UAE-Vietnam CEPA (in force 3 February 2026, tariffs removed on 99% of Vietnamese-originating exports)
- Vietnam Trade Portal (MOIT): Customs procedure for exported goods (VNACCS EDA/EDB/EDC, channels, documents)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, permits)
- Dubai Customs: FAQ (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%, business code, licensed clearing agents)
- UAE Government portal: Clearing the customs and paying customs duty
- UAE Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide, import VAT at 5% and reverse charge
- Ministry of Finance of Vietnam: VAT reduction at import (Decree 174/2025/ND-CP)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026