Need to break the "monopoly" for the largest seaport in Dong Nai province

Cargo transit activities at Phuoc An Port. Photo: H. Loc

To maximize investment efficiency, this port needs to "untie the knot" in connecting traffic infrastructure, forming a synchronous and effective logistics ecosystem.

Strategic seaport of the province and region

Phuoc An Port Construction Investment Project is implemented in Phuoc An commune, with a scale of more than 164 hectares, total investment capital of more than 11 trillion VND, divided into 3 phases. The port consists of 9 wharves with a total length of about 2.8 km, capable of receiving ships from 30-60 thousand tons.

Phase 1 has been completed and put into operation since December 2024. Currently, the port receives an average of 20 international ships per month, with the participation of many major shipping lines such as MSC, WANHAI, SITC, ZIM... Phase 2 has completed investment in container terminals. Phase 3 is expected to be completed in mid-2026, including terminals for general cargo and container cargo.

Mr. Truong Hoang Hai, General Director of Phuoc An Port Investment and Exploitation Petroleum Joint Stock Company, said that the port has a strategic geographical location when it is located next to Thi Vai River, a key shipping route to the East Sea, near key industrial zones of Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, convenient for attracting and transiting goods. In particular, the port is less than 30km from Long Thanh International Airport, expected to be basically completed by the end of 2025 and commercially operational from mid-2026. This is an ideal condition for forming a multimodal logistics chain.

According to the announcement in early 2025 by the Ministry of Construction , Dong Nai has 19 seaports in the Vietnamese seaport system. Of which, Phuoc An Port is the largest, with an area of over 164 hectares, a total investment of over 11 trillion VND, and the target of exploiting ships with a tonnage of 30-60 DWT.

According to Mr. Hai, all legal procedures on investment, environmental deposit and periodic reporting have been fully implemented by the investor according to regulations. During the implementation process, the enterprise enjoyed preferential investment policies and received active support from provincial agencies.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang assessed that Phuoc An Port is one of the province's great expectations in developing trade and services, especially in the field of logistics and freight transport. Although it has only been in operation for about half a year, the port's reception of international ships and initial transit of goods has shown very positive signs. The province hopes that in the coming time, Phuoc An Port will promote its advantages well, attracting more domestic and foreign cargo ships.

National Assembly Delegate Le Hoang Hai, full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, said after a recent port survey: "A large seaport, but located deep inland and close to many industrial parks, is a huge advantage." However, he also noted that the current major limitation is that traffic connecting to the port is still weak, directly affecting the investment efficiency and operation of the port. Delegate Le Hoang Hai said he will recommend Dong Nai province and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to soon make appropriate adjustments so that the port can maximize its potential, contributing to the socio-economic growth of the province and the southern region.

Need to develop infrastructure to break the "monopoly"

Phuoc An Port is oriented to become the leading logistics center of Dong Nai province and the Southeast region. Although it has attracted many large international shipping lines, the reality shows that the port is facing difficulties due to the lack of a synchronous infrastructure system. Currently, the entry and exit of the port mainly depends on a single connecting route, leading to a "monopoly" situation in the circulation of goods.

At a recent meeting with the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Mr. Truong Hoang Hai proposed a number of solutions. Specifically, expanding the connecting road from Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway to the port and completing the intersection. In addition, widening the road to the port from 61m to 120m, and adding a 6-8 lane backup route to limit traffic conflicts.

The enterprise also proposed to add a route planning parallel to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway to improve transportation capacity. Planning a 40-hectare commercial - service area behind the port to form a closed logistics ecosystem. Another notable proposal is to adjust the direction of the Phu My - Ho Chi Minh City gas pipeline away from the port and the connecting route to ensure safe exploitation. At the same time, it proposed to approve the investment policy of Phuoc An Industrial Park to exploit synchronously with the port, creating a new chain of driving forces to promote the economy of the province and the region.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang acknowledged and highly appreciated the recommendations of enterprises. Some contents have been adjusted by the province; some other contents will be considered for inclusion in the Dong Nai Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which is in the process of adjustment. Long-term strategic recommendations will be considered for addition to the planning and resources for implementation will be calculated.

According to the provincial leaders, Long Thanh International Airport is currently the focus of all development plans, including transport infrastructure. Adding connecting routes to promote investment efficiency in both international airports and seaports is an urgent requirement. The province is promoting a number of large projects around the airport area such as: free trade zones, concentrated information technology zones, large-scale industrial zones and clusters... This will be a great opportunity to complete the regional transport network and increase the attraction of Phuoc An Port.

Provincial Party Committee member, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Bui Xuan Thong expressed that Phuoc An Port plays an important role in shaping the logistics system of the Southeast region. However, if there is no early investment in synchronous connecting infrastructure, the port will find it difficult to promote its role as a freight transit hub as expected. Adjusting land use planning and investing in transport infrastructure are essential requirements to promote sustainable development in the coming period.

Hoang Loc

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202507/can-pha-the-doc-dao-cho-cang-bien-lon-nhat-tinh-dong-nai-d9c22d8/