Vietnam aims to enhance and optimize modern seaport development
Vietnam has plans to develop a modern seaport system in the near future, but the challenge lies in optimizing these facilities. Currently, there are 286 terminals with a total of over 96 km of quays nationwide, capable of handling more than 706 million tonnes of cargo. Notably, the seaport complexes in Hai Phong City and Ho Chi Minh City are among the world’s top 50 container ports.
Under the general plan for developing Vietnam’s seaport system from 2021 to 2030, with a vision to 2050, two special seaport complexes, Lach Huyen in Hai Phong and Cai Mep – Thi Vai in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, will be developed to serve international vessels. Lach Huyen, currently the deepest-water seaport in the northern region, covers 57 hectares with 750 meters of main quays. This port allows direct transportation of cargo to the US and Europe, reducing logistics expenses and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese exports.
The Cai Mep – Thi Vai complex has been chosen as an international transshipment port, capable of handling vessels with a deadweight tonnage of up to 250,000. It accounts for a significant portion of the total cargo throughput and container volume in Vietnam, particularly in the southern region.
The Ministry of Transport (MoT) is considering policies to develop international transshipment ports in Van Phong and assessing the potential of Tran De Terminal to serve as the gateway port of the Mekong Delta. Additionally, the construction of the Can Tho International Transshipment Port has been proposed by Ho Chi Minh City, receiving support from the MoT.
By 2030, Vietnam aims to develop its seaport system to handle 1.14 – 1.42 billion tonnes of cargo, including 38 – 47 million TEUs of container goods and serve 10.1 – 10.3 million passengers. To achieve this, an investment of approximately VND313 trillion ($12.7 billion) will be required for goods loading services alone. The funding is expected to come from non-state budget sources, business investments, and other legal sources.
Efforts are being made to attract investment to seaports, with a significant portion already coming from the private sector. However, the focus now is on maximizing the potential of the upcoming “super” ports. Developing high-quality seaport infrastructure and ensuring effective utilization of these facilities is crucial for the successful implementation of Vietnam’s marine economy development strategy.
To ensure effectiveness, authorities and businesses should carefully consider investments, understand cargo transportation demands, and plan investment roadmaps to avoid redundancy, unnecessary competition, and financial risks. Addressing weaknesses such as the lack of interlinked quays, specialized examination forces, logistics ecosystems, and an inter-regional multi-modal transport system is essential. Additionally, reducing logistics costs and clearance durations is vital.
The Minister of Transport has urged the Maritime Administration to address these challenges promptly and formulate a medium-term capital allocation plan for 2026 – 2030. This will facilitate the development of transport infrastructure connecting major seaport areas and elevate the status of Vietnamese ports in the near future.