Freight forwarders specializing in China-Vietnam shipping routes are notified that MSC will launch a new exclusive liner service named OCHNA on June 19, 2026. This new service focuses on container transportation between major ports in North China and Vietnam.

According to MSC’s official announcement, this new weekly fixed service will make its maiden voyage aboard the vessel MSC HAILEY ANN II (Voyage No. HQ625A). It adopts a closed-loop port rotation: Dalian – Tianjin Xingang – Qingdao – Haiphong – Ho Chi Minh City – Dalian.

MSC noted that the OCHNA service aims to provide direct and efficient shipping connections for China-Vietnam bilateral trade to meet the booming market demand.

Why MSC Steps up Investment in China-Vietnam Shipping Routes

Bilateral trade between China and Vietnam has seen sustained growth in recent years, exceeding 290 billion US dollars in 2025. Vietnam has become China’s largest trading partner among ASEAN countries. China’s exports to Vietnam are dominated by electromechanical products, textiles and raw materials, while China’s imports from Vietnam including fruits, agricultural products and electronic products have also grown steadily.

In the past, there were very few direct shipping options from North Chinese ports to Vietnam. Most cargoes had to be transshipped via Shanghai, Ningbo or Hong Kong, leading to unstable sailing schedules and uncontrollable transit time.

Starting from Dalian and connecting Tianjin and Qingdao, three major ports in North China, MSC’s new service offers direct calls at Vietnam’s Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh City, effectively opening up a dedicated export channel for North China. For exporters in northern and northeastern China, goods can be shipped from local ports, saving the time and cost of inland trucking to East China ports for transshipment.

Core Values of Covering Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh City Ports

Haiphong Port serves major industrial zones in northern Vietnam and gathers a large number of enterprises engaged in electronics, textile and machinery manufacturing industries. As Vietnam’s largest port and southern economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City Port covers the export of consumer goods and agricultural products. Covering both ports enables the new service to fully anchor the two core economic engines of northern and southern Vietnam.

MSC emphasized that OCHNA is an independent liner service instead of a slot-sharing service. This means MSC can independently control sailing schedules and container slots, significantly reducing the risk of cargo rolling for freight forwarders during peak shipping seasons.

What the New Service Means for Freight Forwarders

The new weekly direct service adds reliable direct shipping slots for North China’s exports to Vietnam. Previously, most cargoes shipped from Dalian, Tianjin and Qingdao to Vietnam required transshipment at Busan, Shanghai or Hong Kong. The OCHNA service provides a one-stop shipping solution that cuts logistics costs and shortens transit time by eliminating the need for long-distance overland transportation to East China ports.

Special attention can be paid to reefer containers and special container shipments. Booming bilateral trade has driven strong market demand for cold chain transportation, covering frozen food shipments from China to Vietnam and tropical fruit and aquatic product shipments from Vietnam to China. As Vietnam’s core hub for refrigerated container shipping, Ho Chi Minh City Port, supported by the fixed schedule and direct shipment of the OCHNA service, delivers stable and predictable cold chain slot guarantees.

Forwarders can seize profitable return voyage opportunities. The closed-loop route returns directly to Dalian after calling at Ho Chi Minh City with stable weekly northbound slots. It is recommended to focus on the freight rate and transit efficiency of return voyages for imported goods from Vietnam to North China, including fruits, aquatic products and electronic components.

A trial shipment is advised during the initial operation period. The maiden voyage is scheduled for June 19, and the punctuality rate and operational coordination of the first few voyages are still in the running-in stage. Forwarders are recommended to arrange trial shipments to verify the actual operational performance and schedule stability before large-scale promotion. Meanwhile, you can consult local MSC sales teams in Dalian and Qingdao in advance to learn about slot quotas and detailed weekly sailing schedules.

MSC’s continuous expansion of intra-Asia routes demonstrates its positive long-term outlook for the China-Southeast Asia trade corridor. For freight forwarders serving northern and northeastern China’s Vietnam-bound export business, the launch of the OCHNA service adds a stable and high-quality alternative to their shipping solution portfolio.