HCMC – The Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration (Vimawa) has proposed port fee incentives to ease the cost burden on exporters to the U.S. market.
At a quarterly review meeting of the Ministry of Transport held on April 9, Le Do Muoi, head of Vimawa, warned of potential short-term declines in two-way trade between Vietnam and the U.S. due to the new U.S. tariff policy. He cited risks of reduced cargo throughput and possible route cuts or consolidations by global shipping lines aiming to optimize capacity.
The administration has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Construction, recommending that provincial and city governments consider offering temporary incentives on infrastructure usage fees, service charges, and public utilities at seaport gateways for U.S.-bound shipments.
Though the U.S. has suspended the significant reciprocal tariff on imports from Vietnam for 90 days, a lower 10% rate will be applied while the two nations pursue further trade talks.
With the future of trade negotiations hanging in the balance, the proposal could be interpreted as a proactive measure in anticipation of a potentially unfavorable outcome, helping minimize disruptions to shipping costs and business earnings.
Under the proposal, port operators are advised to closely monitor container flows and prepare contingency plans in case of rising backlogs triggered by the new U.S. trade policy.
Vietnam currently operates two deep-water ports capable of handling direct U.S. services: Lach Huyen Port in Haiphong City and Cai Mep–Thi Vai Port in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province, with a combined 31 weekly sailings to the U.S.
In Haiphong, direct U.S. services account for over half of total container throughput, according to port operators. Lach Huyen handles seven weekly sailings, with five to the U.S. West Coast and two to the East Coast. It mainly transports electronics, garments, and footwear. In 2024, Lach Huyen handled about 0.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of U.S.-bound cargo. In the first quarter of 2025, the figure reached 222,000 TEUs.
Meanwhile, Cai Mep–Thi Vai hosts 24 direct services to the U.S. across five terminals. U.S.-related cargo makes up 50-55% of the port’s total container traffic. In 2024, the port handled nearly four million TEUs of U.S.-bound goods, with around one million TEUs moved in the first three months of 2025.
