Realizing the aspiration to become the leading seaport - logistics center in Southeast Asia

Hai Phong is entering a period of strong breakthrough to become the leading logistics and seaport service center in Southeast Asia, the international trade gateway of Vietnam.

Lach Huyen port area regularly welcomes large ships to dock to load cargo. Photo: LE DUNG

Impressive growth in goods output

According to Director of Hai Phong Maritime Port Authority Bui Nguyen Khoi, in the first 7 months of 2025, the cumulative cargo throughput through Hai Phong seaports reached 65.5 million tons, an increase of 7% over the same period in 2024. Of which, the output through sea vessels reached 55.5 million tons, inland waterway vehicles reached 10 million tons. The city also welcomed 10,481 ships entering and leaving the port, an increase of 10% over the same period.

In particular, Lach Huyen port area, the largest deep-water port in the North, in 7 months, the container output reached 1.2 million TEU, an increase of 34%. Notably, in April and May, Hateco Group and Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company inaugurated and put into operation 4 berths (from No. 3 to No. 6) at Lach Huyen, opening many transport routes to Europe and America. After 6 berths in this area are simultaneously exploited from May, it is expected that in 2025, the output can reach 2.2 million TEU.

In the months of 2025, the city's major port operators all recorded double-digit growth. The high growth rate of cargo to the port continued to be recorded at Tan Cang Hai Phong International Container Port (TC-HICT) when it continuously maintained cargo throughput of more than 120,000 Teus containers/month. As the city's largest port enterprise, the first 7 months of 2025 are considered a vibrant period for Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company. Many port enterprises in the city in the first 6 months of the year also achieved high growth rates such as: VIP Green port, Nam Dinh Vu, Hai An, Nam Hai Dinh Vu...

According to the approval of the Detailed Planning for the development of land and seaport areas in Hai Phong for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 by the Ministry of Construction , the goal by 2030 is that the seaport will handle 175.4 - 215.5 million tons of cargo (of which, container cargo will be 12.15 million - 14.92 million TEU, excluding international transit container cargo) and 20.4 - 22.8 thousand passengers. The area will have 61 - 73 ports, including 98 - 111 wharves with a total length of 20,196 - 23,446 m (excluding other ports).

By 2050, seaports will meet the demand for goods with an average growth rate of 5 - 5.3%/year, and passengers with an average growth rate of 1.5 - 1.6%/year.

According to the plan, by 2030, Lach Huyen port area will accommodate 61.4 - 90 million tons of cargo and 10.5 - 11 thousand passengers. The port area will have 14 - 16 wharves, including 15 - 18 wharves with a total length of 5,625 - 6,875 m (excluding other ports). Of which, wharves 1, 2, 3, 4 receive ships with a capacity of up to 165,000 tons (12,000 TEU). Wharves from wharf 5 to wharf 10 receive ships with a capacity of up to 200,000 tons (18,000 TEU), in accordance with related infrastructure.

In addition, Lach Huyen port area is also planned to have Got 1 and Got 2 ports, with general and separate wharves, receiving ships with a capacity of up to 100,000 tons. At the same time, there are 2 Cai Trap 1 and Cai Trap 2 ports, respectively receiving ships with a capacity of up to 150,000 tons and 100,000 tons. The area also plans ports No. 21 and No. 22 to receive liquid/gas cargo with a total length of 600m, receiving ships with a capacity of up to 150,000 tons.

From the beginning of the year to the end of July 2025, the volume of goods passing through seaports in the Hai Phong area reached 65.5 million tons. Photo: LE DUNG

Promoting special mechanisms and strategic projects

On July 8, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No. 1497/QD-TTg approving the investment in four new ports No. 9, 10, 11, 12 in Lach Huyen with a total capital of nearly VND 24,846 billion. Phase 1 (2026 - 2030) will build two ports 9 and 10; Phase 2 (2031 - 2035) will build two ports 11 and 12. The main ports are 1,800 m long, receiving ships of 12,000 - 18,000 TEU, with a 400 m long auxiliary port serving domestic ships, with synchronous technical infrastructure and modern loading and unloading equipment.

The approval of four new ports to create a port cluster of Southeast Asian scale marks an important turning point in helping Hai Phong realize its goal of becoming an international logistics center, especially when Hai Phong and Hai Duong have just merged, creating a synergistic strength: Hai Duong is a large industrial and agricultural production center; Hai Phong is an import-export gateway. This connection promotes international trade, bringing goods directly to the world at lower costs and faster times.

Based on Resolution 226/2025/QH15, Hai Phong promotes the development of logistics centers of more than 50 hectares in scale associated with seaports, airports, and inland waterway ports. The city prioritizes resources to build a digital seaport platform, apply AI and IoT to optimize supply chain management, develop green ports, smart ports, and proactively attract large shipping lines and expand direct container shipping routes to Europe and America.

A series of strategic projects will be implemented in the coming time such as Nam Do Son Port, 7/12 Wharfs in Lach Huyen, Ninh Binh - Hai Phong Expressway Project, Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong Railway Project... to help connect multimodal transport. The city is also interested in developing the river port system, especially in the western region such as Ninh Giang Inland Waterway Port Project, Logistics Service Center Project, Petroleum and Cargo Port, Petroleum Depot, Minh Hoa Commercial Service Area to help goods go deep into the inland, reducing pressure on roads and transportation costs.

With synchronous and systematic investment and making the most of special mechanisms, Hai Phong is determined to realize the goal of becoming the leading logistics and seaport service center in Southeast Asia. With modern transport infrastructure, seaports, a strong industrial foundation after merging with Hai Duong and increasingly deep international connectivity, Hai Phong not only affirms its position as the "gateway to the sea" of the North but also rises to become an important link in the global supply chain.

NINH THANH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hien-thuc-khat-vong-tro-thanh-trung-tam-cang-bien-logistics-hang-dau-dong-nam-a-519977.html