The 2 millionth TEU was unloaded at TIL International Port, Hai Phong . Photo: Manh Tu/TTXVN
With an economy worth $30 billion, ranking third nationwide, and maintaining double-digit growth for 11 consecutive years, the city is laying a solid foundation for rapid development in 2026 and beyond. This development picture is reflected in three key aspects: socio-economic dynamism, the turning point of free trade, and the strategic role of the seaport system in international integration.
VNA (Vietnam News Agency) is publishing a series of articles on the theme "The Port City in the New Development Rhythm," demonstrating the strong transformation of Hai Phong in its first term and in the new era.
Lesson 1: 11 Years of Double-Digit Growth
With an economy size of approximately 30 billion USD, ranking third nationwide, Hai Phong is the only locality to maintain double-digit growth for 11 consecutive years. This achievement reflects the strong dynamism of a vibrant port city and demonstrates Hai Phong's increasingly important role in the national development landscape.
The city is in motion.
According to Chairman of the Hai Phong City People's Committee Le Ngoc Chau, the city's Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) continues to maintain double-digit growth, estimated at 11.81% in 2025, ranking second nationwide (after Quang Ninh province at 11.89%). Total state budget revenue in the city is estimated to reach over 187 trillion VND in 2025, equivalent to 127% of the central government's allocated target, a 23.1% increase compared to the same period last year, marking the fourth consecutive year exceeding 100 trillion VND.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) attracted in the first 11 months reached US$2.59 billion; by December 12, 2025, it is projected to exceed US$2.7 billion. The estimated cargo throughput at the port for the whole year of 2025 is 213 million tons, a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The estimated number of newly established businesses for the whole year is 7,200, an increase of over 33% compared to 2024; exceeding the target of 1,200 businesses set for the year.
The city has focused on removing obstacles, promptly resolving investment procedures, and accelerating land clearance to implement socio-economic development projects and works. Significant positive results have been achieved in the fields of culture and society, sports, health, education and training, science and technology, and digital transformation. Social welfare has been fully and promptly addressed, reaching the right beneficiaries; the material and spiritual lives of the people have been increasingly improved.
Regarding the disbursement of public investment capital, as of December 11, 2025, the city had disbursed over 32,500 billion VND, reaching 90.6% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister, ranking 4th out of 34 provinces and cities in terms of both the amount of capital disbursed and the disbursement rate; and ranking first in terms of the disbursement rate compared to the local plan.
Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City, Le Ngoc Chau. Photo: Minh Hue/TTXVN
Regarding import and export activities, total export turnover for the whole year of 2025 is estimated to reach US$50.14 billion, an increase of 8.5% compared to 2024; exceeding the annual plan. Total import turnover for the whole year of 2025 is estimated to reach US$40.9 billion, an increase of 20.4% compared to 2024.
Regarding infrastructure investment and construction, the city has been implementing many large-scale projects and works in the fields of transportation, urban development, and energy, contributing to the socio-economic development of the city in the short and long term.
Regarding the development of social housing, according to the targets set by the Prime Minister, the city must complete 49,400 social housing units during the 2021-2030 period; it is projected that in 2025 and 2026, the city will complete and hand over a total of 17,910 units, exceeding the Prime Minister's target of 17,384 units...
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai (from Dien Ha, Hung Yen province), currently working at Tan Cang Hai Phong International Container Port Company Limited (TC-HICT), said that in recent years, he has clearly seen the changes in Hai Phong city as many infrastructure projects and industrial zones have come into operation. Workers have more stable jobs, their lives have improved, and local businesses also have the opportunity to cooperate with large investors. Hai Phong is becoming an attractive destination, not only for investors but also for people who want to establish a career and settle down long-term.
From the perspective of a foreign businessman, Mr. Koen Soenens - Director of Business and Marketing at DEEP C Industrial Park Complex - shared that in December 2025, six years had passed since he first set foot in Hai Phong. At that time, Koen Soenens thought, "This is going to be interesting!" Six years later, new bridges have sprung up faster than he can remember their names, and new roads have opened before Google Maps can even update.
"What I've learned is that when Hai Phong says 'We're planning,' it often means 'The construction is already underway.' International investors recognize this. Every delegation that visits DEEP C shares the same feeling: Hai Phong is a city in motion, a city that is building, a city that doesn't wait for anyone," said Mr. Koen Soenens.
Challenges can create opportunities.
VSIP Hai Phong Urban Industrial Park. Photo courtesy of Danh Lam/TTXVN.
According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City, Le Ngoc Chau, in 2025, although the city's GRDP growth rate will continue to reach double digits, ranking second nationwide and first among the six centrally-governed cities, it will not achieve the expected growth rate. The organization and operation of the two-tiered local government model still face some difficulties and obstacles. Some commune-level administrative units still face challenges in terms of infrastructure and a shortage of experienced and specialized human resources, especially in the fields of finance, land, and planning.
Furthermore, dependence on a few key markets poses a risk of imbalance and vulnerability in the event of fluctuations; the exploitation of emerging, potential markets remains modest and has not yet become a driving force for expanding cooperation.
Regarding the factors impacting the city's socio-economic development in 2025, the head of the City People's Committee noted that these include the complex and unpredictable global situation; the negative impact of the US reciprocal tax policy; and the frequent and intense natural disasters, storms, and floods negatively affecting the city's socio-economic development results.
Years of development have shown that challenges always create opportunities for Hai Phong. The city's breakthroughs stem from a spirit of daring to lead, daring to pave the way, and boldly experimenting with new approaches to create space for development and growth momentum. This spirit is perfectly aligned with the requirements for reforming thinking and institutions that the Central Government is resolutely directing.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh visits and works at VinFast Hai Phong Production and Trading Joint Stock Company. Photo: Minh Hue/TTXVN.
During a working session with Hai Phong city on December 15, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh assessed that Hai Phong has achieved many successes with outstanding and comprehensive achievements in various fields, especially in achieving growth targets; all tasks assigned by the Government to Hai Phong have been met and exceeded; budget revenue has achieved positive results; the local economy is large in scale; public investment disbursement has achieved good results; national target programs have been implemented decisively and achieved many positive results; and infrastructure has received investment attention.
Regarding future development directions, the Standing Deputy Prime Minister requested Hai Phong city to continue focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles to promote production and business development, ensuring the maintenance of high growth targets; effectively implementing planning; strengthening investment attraction activities, especially private investment; promoting the application of science and technology, building and developing value chains; and unlocking and promoting new growth drivers.
Simultaneously, Hai Phong also needs to continue implementing comprehensively and effectively the tasks and solutions for developing culture, health, and education. It should promote digital transformation, build a digital government, reform administration, and create favorable conditions for citizens and businesses in production and business; accelerate the application of information technology, and handle work in the digital environment, contributing to reducing the time spent on administrative procedures for citizens and businesses, ensuring the achievement of the goals of the two-tiered local government: better social governance and better service to the people.
Chairman of the Hai Phong City People's Committee, Le Ngoc Chau, stated that 2026 is the first year of implementing the 5-year socio-economic development plan for the period 2026-2030, laying the foundation for the successful achievement of the strategic goals set by the First Congress of the City Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term; it is a year with many advantages but also many intertwined difficulties and challenges.
In 2026, Hai Phong aims for a GRDP growth rate of approximately 13% compared to 2025; of which the industrial and construction sector will grow by 15.16%; the service sector by 11%; the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector by 2%; and product taxes less product subsidies by 11%. State budget revenue in the area will reach VND 194,882 billion; of which domestic revenue will reach VND 103,166 billion, and revenue from import and export activities will reach VND 84,200 billion. Export turnover will reach USD 52 billion...
Lesson 2: Growth Launchpad
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/thanh-pho-cang-trong-nhip-phat-trien-moi-bai-1-11-nam-tang-truong-hai-con-so-20251217144806769.htm
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