Can Tho Port Receives First Container Ship from China’s Nanning Port as Direct Trade Route Opens
The inaugural container vessel from Nanning Port docked at Can Tho, Vietnam, establishing a new maritime link set to enhance trade in the Mekong Delta region.
Can Tho Port in southern Vietnam received its first container vessel from China’s Nanning Port on 24 September 2026, marking the commencement of a direct maritime trade route designed to facilitate commerce between Guangxi and the Mekong Delta. The vessel had departed Nanning on 16 September and navigated through the Pinglu Canal, the Gulf of Tonkin, and the East Vietnam Sea before entering the Hau River to reach Cai Cui Port, part of the Can Tho Port system.
New Maritime Outlet Connects Guangxi to Mekong Delta
Le Cong Ly, standing vice-chairman of the Can Tho administration, highlighted the significance of the Pinglu Canal as a direct maritime outlet enhancing Guangxi’s inland waterway network. The route is intended to foster regular trade links between southwestern China and southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region.
The Mekong Delta exports commodities including rice, seafood, fruit, and processed goods. Guangxi offers a diverse and sizeable market, presenting opportunities for expanded import-export activity. According to Ly, the new shipping service is expected to reduce transit time and logistics costs, improving options for regional businesses.
Operational Details and Future Prospects
The container route will operate initially twice a month, with a transit time of approximately seven days. River-sea container vessels serving the route will have a capacity of about 500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). Refrigerated containers are projected to constitute around 25 per cent of total capacity, with the remainder being dry containers.
Le Cong Ly emphasised the importance of securing balanced two-way cargo flows to sustain operations, stabilise schedules, and reduce costs. The route’s service providers include Can Tho Port JSC and Beibu Gulf Port Group, collaborating with logistics firms, shippers, and supply chain partners to optimise operations. Can Tho authorities plan to expand port and logistics infrastructure to connect Cai Cui Port with key industrial parks and production centres across the Mekong Delta.
This maritime route represents a strategic enhancement of trade in the region, with implications for supply chain efficiency and economic integration. Monitoring the development and usage of the route will be important to assess its impact on regional trade dynamics and infrastructure utilisation.
