Savannah to Ho Chi Minh City shipping route.

Ships leaving Savannah for Ho Chi Minh City head north and cover a sea distance of 11,312 nautical miles (20,949 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 15,171 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca and Suez Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 39.3 days at 12 knots, 33.7 days at 14 knots and 26.2 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 37 to 55 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 24 sailings by 4 carriers (HMM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and ZIM).

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Panama Canal instead. That route is 11,810 nautical miles, 499 more, and adds about 1.5 days at 14 knots. Longer voyages burn more fuel and tie up more ships, which is why freight rates on Red Sea lanes jumped when the diversions started.

2,496 nm of the route, 22% of it, lies inside North American ECA and Mediterranean Sea ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.

Recent freight rates for USSAV to VNSGN start at $6,077 for a 20GP and $8,980 for a 40GP ($8,248 for a 40HC). These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Ho Chi Minh City (VNSGN) carriers give about 4 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 64 port to port routes from Savannah in this directory, Ho Chi Minh City is the 62nd shortest. Closer destinations include Manila (11,110 nm), Tanjung Priok (10,960 nm) and Yantian (10,949 nm).