Reaching out to sea
From a once poor and sparsely populated island region, Cat Hai has undergone a stunning transformation in the last five years, boasting a completely new appearance. The Lach Huyen area has become an international gateway port with modern, towering cranes and vast container yards. Large ships, tens of meters high, constantly enter and exit, their horns blaring. Today, Cat Hai is asserting its position as a key point on Hai Phong's journey to reach the open sea, building a new foundation and standing alongside the top 29 seaports with the highest cargo volume in the world. Furthermore, the Dinh Vu - Cat Hai economic zone is a preferred destination for many leading domestic and international corporations.
According to statistics from the People's Committee of the city, from 2019 to the present, the city has converted more than 930 hectares of sea surface into land. Of this, more than 728 hectares are dedicated to the construction of industrial parks and free trade zones. A prime example is the Xuan Cau Industrial Park in Cat Hai, with over 90% of its area being reclaimed land. This industrial park is connected to the Lach Huyen international gateway port, making it ideal for developing a modern and integrated "port - industrial park - urban" logistics model.
Approximately 201 hectares are allocated for the development of a connecting transportation system, including the road behind Tan Vu - Lach Huyen port, and the main routes connecting berths 3, 4, 5, and 6 to the national highway network, which are being urgently implemented. In addition, a portion of the area is allocated for cultural and historical infrastructure, such as the Ben Nghieng and Vung Xec areas, to serve tourism development and preserve traditional values.
At the 29th session of the 16th term of the Hai Phong City People's Council (after the merger with Hai Duong), the 5-year land use plan for the period 2021-2025 was approved. The total natural land area of the city was determined to be 320,402 hectares, of which the area of Hai Duong province (formerly) 166,828 hectares remained unchanged. The natural land area of Hai Phong city (formerly) was adjusted upwards from 152,652 hectares to 153,574 hectares. This adjustment includes an increase of 930.41 hectares due to land reclamation and a decrease of 8.07 hectares due to updated 2023 statistics, providing a legal basis for implementing strategic investment projects.
Along with land reclamation, a series of important seaport projects are also being implemented. In 2025, four berths (3, 4, 5, and 6) in the Lach Huyen deep-water port area will be inaugurated simultaneously. In July 2025, the Prime Minister approved the investment plan for the construction of berths 9, 10, 11, and 12 in the Lach Huyen port area. Previously, berths 7 and 8 were approved and their investment plans received in 2023.
To ensure infrastructure is synchronized with the seaport, Hai Phong has put into operation and is continuing to implement many connecting transportation projects such as: the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway; the Hai Phong - Ha Long - Mong Cai expressway; National Highway 5; National Highway 10, which has been upgraded, renovated, and expanded; the construction of bridges: Rung, Lai Xuan, Quang Thanh, Dinh, Song Hoa, Dong Viet, and Nguyen Trai bridge; the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line; and the upgraded and expanded Cat Bi International Airport…
Expanding development space towards the sea not only solves the problem of scarce industrial land but also promotes seaports, transforming them into major logistics centers for the entire country and increasing the ability to attract large-scale FDI. Hai Phong is shifting its development center towards the sea to maximize the advantages of its deep-water port, making the marine economy a pillar of development.
Towards becoming an international logistics hub.
In June 2025, the National Assembly passed Resolution 226/2025/QH15 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Hai Phong city. Six groups of mechanisms with 41 policies, including key policies aimed at removing "bottlenecks" in administrative procedures for attracting investment in seaports, are becoming the driving force for Hai Phong to maximize its potential and advantages, forming a breakthrough development model, contributing to boosting the economy of the Northern coastal region and the whole country.
According to the detailed plan for the development of the Hai Phong seaport area and waters for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Ministry of Construction in June 2025, by 2030 the Hai Phong seaport system will be capable of handling 175.4-215.5 million tons of cargo and serving 20,400-22,800 passengers. Specifically, the Lach Huyen port area will have 14-16 berths with 15-18 piers, of which berths 1, 2, 3, and 4 will accommodate vessels up to 165,000 tons (12,000 TEU); berths 5 to 10 will accommodate vessels up to 200,000 tons (18,000 TEU), in line with the relevant infrastructure.
Along with the planning of the seaport system, a series of important transportation projects are being accelerated, such as the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line, the Ninh Binh - Hai Phong expressway (the section through the city and 9 km in Thai Binh province, expected to open in 2027), Nam Do Son port, the southern coastal economic zone of Hai Phong, and the international airport project in the Tien Lang area.
Following the merger, Hai Phong gained additional strategic advantages, opening up opportunities for large-scale industrial, urban, and service development. This is a crucial step for the city to affirm its role as a maritime economic center and a dynamic growth pole in the Northern region, aiming to become an international logistics hub.
HA NGASource: https://baohaiphong.vn/hai-phong-lan-bien-dung-co-do-521078.html
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