International cooperation in seaport development

Recently, the city has paid special attention to expanding international cooperation in the field of seaports. These connections not only bring experience and technology but also open up great opportunities in developing seaports in a modern direction.

Cuban port enterprises (GEMAR) visited and worked at Hai Phong Port.

Strategic cooperation

As the largest seaport center in the Northern region, Hai Phong city faces the need for comprehensive innovation from infrastructure, technology to human resource quality. International cooperation therefore becomes an important channel for the city to access advanced models more quickly, shorten the testing process and standardize exploitation activities according to international standards.

The spirit of expanding international cooperation in the port sector is also maintained by the city regularly through many meetings, dialogues, and seminars with delegations from the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Cuba, etc. this year. In early November 2025, Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company worked with a Swedish delegation. Experts from this country shared many practical experiences in port management and operation following the model of Gothenburg Port, the leading port in Europe in electrifying wharf equipment. Many solutions are considered suitable for research and application at Hai Phong's deep-water container terminals. Mr. Chu Minh Hoang, Deputy General Director of Hai Phong Port, said that international cooperation helps businesses quickly access advanced operating models and shorten testing time.

Previously, in September 2025, Hateco Hai Phong International Container Port and Gothenburg Port (Sweden) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking an important step in strengthening the connection between Vietnamese seaport enterprises and partners in Northern Europe. This agreement not only creates a premise for exchanging experiences in port operations, logistics and supply chain management, but also expands opportunities to attract new service routes, promoting international trade through Hai Phong. Strengthening connections with major seaports in the world demonstrates the city's proactive integration strategy, while affirming its potential to become an important transit point in the region.

According to Mr. Tran Tien Dung, Chairman of the Logistics Association, Hai Phong is becoming a priority destination for many shipping alliances thanks to its outstanding strategic advantages. The operation of deep-water terminals at Lach Huyen wharf area and the upcoming Nam Do Son port will create conditions for faster connections between Vietnam and major markets such as North America, Europe and intra-Asia. For Hai Phong to become an international transit port, the city needs to continue expanding cooperation and attracting more service routes connecting directly with the United States, Europe and intra-Asia markets. This is a key factor in strengthening the strategic position of Hai Phong port in the global transport network.

From the practical cooperation, it shows that Hai Phong's approach has clearly shifted from individual learning to long-term companionship. Cooperation is not only about technology transfer, but also about the process of standardizing the entire operating system according to new standards of the global supply chain.

Recently, the city has strengthened international cooperation to improve capacity and build green, smart seaports.

Open opportunities

International connections have had a clear impact on the operation of the city’s seaport system. Recently, many large shipping lines have continuously opened new routes to Lach Huyen port area. This shows the increasing level of trust of international enterprises in Hai Phong’s seaport exploitation capacity.

Last October, TIL Hai Phong International Port (HTIT), a member of Hai Phong Port Joint Stock Company, welcomed the safe arrival of the COSCO ASIA ship. This was the first ship of the WAS3 maritime service route operated by COSCO SHIPPING Lines, directly connecting Hai Phong with the port system in several South American countries. The operation of the WAS3 route helps shorten transportation time, reduce logistics costs for Vietnamese export goods to Latin America, and expand the space for cooperation, investment and international trade. Previously, the Hai Phong port system also continuously welcomed many large container ships of the world's leading shipping lines. The increasingly large tonnage ships docking at the port shows the city's infrastructure capacity, operational organization and maritime safety assurance, meeting the increasingly high demands of the international market.

In the context of increasingly fierce competition between regional seaport centers, proactive steps in international cooperation, infrastructure investment, green transformation and digital transformation are considered key factors determining the city's breakthrough capacity in the coming years. With new transcontinental shipping routes being continuously opened and large ships regularly docking, the city is moving closer to its role as an international trade gateway for the North.

Ms. Phung Thi Thuy, Head of the Department of Investment Management and International Cooperation (Department of Industry and Trade) said that the expansion of international connections through seaports is creating a huge space for the city's trade and import-export activities. Where seaports develop, trade, industry and services will develop accordingly. In the coming time, the Department of Industry and Trade will continue to coordinate with related sectors to support businesses in expanding their markets, making good use of new transport routes and free trade agreements to increase export turnover and attract investment.

In the context of the global maritime industry shifting strongly to a green and smart model, Hai Phong is proactively grasping the trend of international cooperation to improve its competitiveness. If the cooperation momentum is maintained and materialized through synchronous investment projects, the city can completely gradually form a modern, green and smart seaport center of the Northern region, aiming for an important transit role in the Southeast Asian region.

HAI MINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hop-tac-quoc-te-phat-trien-cang-bien-528960.html