Opening coastal roads for development: Forming an "Eastward" coastal road route.

The coastal road passing through Vinh Long province not only helps to complete inter-regional transportation infrastructure, but also opens up new development opportunities, promotes economic transformation, and forms a regional center for marine economy and renewable energy production.

The coastal road passing through Vinh Long province not only helps complete inter-regional transportation infrastructure, but also opens up new development opportunities, promotes economic transformation, and forms a regional center for marine economy and renewable energy production.

The province aims to develop into a national center for renewable energy exports. Photo: AN KHANG

Forming a coastal route

According to the Road Network Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister, the coastal road connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the provinces of the Mekong Delta has a total length of approximately 801km. The coastal road project through Vinh Long province passes through Ben Tre province (formerly), connects to Tra Vinh province (formerly) via Co Chien 2 bridge; and intersects with the coastal corridor road of Tra Vinh province (formerly). The total length of this project is over 112km with a total investment of over 27.4 trillion VND. In addition, there is a coastal road under the DPO program (Don-Project for Sustainable Development of the Mekong Delta adapting to climate change) of over 25km; with an estimated total investment of 7.9 trillion VND.

“In the coming period, the province will focus on restructuring the economy in conjunction with innovating the growth model, creating momentum for breakthroughs. We will develop agriculture in depth, shifting from a production-oriented mindset to an agricultural economic mindset. We will develop industry selectively, prioritizing high technology. We will create breakthroughs for the service and tourism sectors, especially logistics and tourism products based on cultural and ecological strengths,” said Tran Tri Quang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Currently, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a directive to accelerate the investment and construction of the coastal road system, focusing on leadership, direction, and allocation of legal resources to ensure its early completion. The tasks for implementing coastal road projects should be specifically incorporated into the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term as a goal to strive for.

According to Mr. Duong Van Ni, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, the construction of these two coastal roads will play a crucial role in connecting major seaports such as Dinh An and Cung Hau, as well as river ports. They will connect economic centers, industrial zones, and seaports, creating a complete logistics chain, reducing transportation costs, and increasing import and export capacity. Once completed, the coastal road network will not only facilitate trade but also hold strategic value for the province's industrial development orientation. Opening up coastal areas will create new land for the construction of large-scale industrial zones and clusters along both sides of the road. This will be a "potential area" attracting investors in the sectors the province is prioritizing.

Expanding development "towards the East"

Located in the heart of the Mekong Delta, the province boasts a coastline of over 130km, providing favorable conditions for the development of a marine economy. Resolution No. 139/2024/QH15 on the National Marine Spatial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, has oriented the province towards becoming a national center for renewable energy exports. The construction of these two coastal roads will expand the marine space, connect and develop the economy, improve the efficiency of marine resource exploitation, and attract investment in the development of coastal economic zones. Simultaneously, it will shift the economic structure towards a green economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance the ability to respond to climate change. In particular, it will connect with coastal roads of other provinces in the region and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as with the national coastal road system, which is approximately 3,034km long.

Over the years, the province's transportation infrastructure has primarily developed in the North-South and West-East directions, connecting the internal regional transportation system. This has inadvertently limited its ability to connect with the sea, major seaports, and coastal supply chains. Therefore, when the Mekong Delta coastal road is implemented comprehensively, this connecting axis will "unlock" the development potential of the eastern region, creating conditions for restructuring the province's economic space.

Construction of Ba Lai 8 bridge - a project belonging to the Provincial Coastal Road Project. Photo: THACH THAO

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh (Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics), Vinh Long has the potential for comprehensive development of marine economic sectors, which is a strategic pillar of the province after the merger. With its central location, coastline, and the upcoming coastal road, it has the necessary and sufficient conditions to "look eastward," developing synchronously various fields such as aquaculture and fisheries, seaports, logistics, coastal industries, coastal urban areas and marine ecotourism, wind and solar power development, etc.

“In particular, the Tra Vinh port cluster, combined with logistics and supply chain areas, will enhance direct import and export capacity, reduce transportation costs and goods turnover time. Coastal industrial zones and clusters associated with the Duyen Hai Economic Zone will form the foundation for seafood processing, electricity and energy, mechanical engineering, and construction materials industries. In addition, the continental shelf of the sea area also has potential oil, gas, and geothermal resources, opening up possibilities for developing new energy sources in the future,” Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh assessed.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Chinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, believes that coastal cities will be the main growth poles for the marine economy, clean energy, and logistics, acting as specialized economic hubs that support the administrative functions of the central city of Vinh Long province. Establishing a "coastal city" and building a strong "strategic river-sea logistics corridor" are prerequisites for connecting and effectively utilizing these development poles. Dinh An Port will play a key role as a gateway for exporting goods to international markets...

AN KHANG

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/202602/mo-duong-ven-bien-phat-trien-hinh-thanh-tuyen-duong-ven-bien-huong-dong-a6c01cc/