Sailing schedules from Hai Phong to Yokohama

Tan Vu is the river container terminal of Hai Phong Port, suited to feeders and mid-size intra-Asia vessels. Put Tan Vu on the booking and the container release order. Do not confuse it with the deepwater Lach Huyen terminals.

Sailings are direct, with no transshipment. Maersk run about 1 sailings a week, and transit takes 5 to 6 days. Miss a sailing and the next one is a week away.

At the Yokohama end, Honmoku is the main terminal, handling about 50% of the port's container volume. Ask the carrier for the exact discharge terminal so the consignee can book the trucker to the right gate.

Japan Customs requires advance cargo reports through NACCS, in principle no later than 24 hours before the vessel departs the loading port. Carriers file against the Master B/L, while NVOCCs and forwarders file against the House B/L. Some short-haul routes from South Korea, China, Russia and Taiwan are allowed to file any time before the vessel sails, but Vietnamese ports are not on that list. Tan Vu to Yokohama is a short run, yet the SI cutoff does not move, so cargo description, consignee and HS code must be right from the start.

If a filing is missing or wrong by the deadline, the carrier or NVOCC can face up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to ¥500,000. Shippers who submit a clean SI early keep the filing party out of trouble.

Japan accepts certificates of origin issued by the exporting country under VJEPA and AJCEP. Vietnamese goods shipped to Japan can also use CPTPP or RCEP, so compare the duty rate for each HS code before choosing a certificate type.

Form VJ falls under Circular 10/2009/TT-BCT, consolidated in document 09/VBHN-BCT of 2024 (amended by Circular 08/2024/TT-BCT). The C/O is normally issued before shipment, and no later than 3 days after the shipment date. In exceptional cases it can be issued retroactively within 12 months, and box 8 must read "Issued Retroactively".

Japan waives the C/O for shipments with a customs value of up to JPY 200,000. Invoices issued by a third-country company are still accepted, but that company's name and address must appear in box 8. VJEPA has no self-certification of origin.

Food, additives, utensils and food packaging sold or used commercially fall under Article 27 of the Food Sanitation Act. The importer files a notification with the MHLW quarantine station covering the port of entry, once per shipment. Selected lots receive an inspection order, and a lot that fails cannot enter. Before packing, send the buyer the ingredient list, the production process and the list of additives. Pallets, dunnage, wooden crates and cases must be treated and stamped under ISPM 15.

Japan shuts down for long stretches over Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August) and the year-end and New Year period. Warehouses and customs brokers close, so domestic delivery slows. Vietnam has Tet, so lock in bookings early. Who pays Yokohama-end charges (THC, D/O and other local fees) depends on the incoterms, so spell it out in the contract.

Homexim books FCL and LCL ocean freight from Tan Vu to Yokohama, clears exports, and arranges container trucking to Tan Vu. Each shipment has one owner from booking to delivery, and quotes break out every charge.