The connecting axis of Gia Binh airport - Lach Huyen port expands the development space of Hai Phong city.

Cargo ships at berths 3 and 4, Lach Huyen Port

Strategic significance of the two 'gateways'

Gia Binh International Airport project is built according to 4E international airport standards. By 2030, the airport will have a capacity of about 30 million passengers and 1.6 million tons of cargo/year. After 2030, the airport will increase its capacity to 50 million passengers and 2.5 million tons of cargo/year. It is expected that by December 31, 2026, the airport will welcome the first international flight to Vietnam.

Gia Binh Airport is planned to be located in the middle of the capital triangle of Hanoi - Bac Ninh - Hai Phong, so it is considered a "gateway" for Bac Ninh to connect with major economic centers in the country and internationally, especially in the context of the province implementing the goal of developing high-tech industry and logistics.

The mission of the "main gate" to the sea of Hai Phong seaport in general and Lach Huyen deep-water port in particular is increasingly affirmed. Hai Phong seaport has become an important "link" in the global sea route, an international logistics center and gradually become an international transit port . In May 2025, the first 6 berths at Lach Huyen port area will be exploited synchronously. Lach Huyen port, together with Cai Mep - Thi Vai port (Ho Chi Minh City), are the 2 seaports in the country with the capacity to receive the world's largest container ships and go directly to the East and West coasts of the United States, America and Europe.

Wharfs No. 7 and No. 8 of Lach Huyen Port are expected to start construction in 2026; Wharfs No. 9, 10, 11 and 12 with a total investment of nearly 1 billion USD were granted investment certificates by the City People's Committee last July. With an expansion scale of up to 20 container berths, Lach Huyen Port faces many development opportunities, affirming its role in the global supply chain.

In addition, the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project, with its terminus at Lach Huyen port, will become an important means of transport carrying a huge volume of goods from China and the North to Lach Huyen port, exporting them around the world and vice versa.

Investing in the traffic route connecting Lach Huyen port with Gia Binh airport has become extremely necessary and urgent.

Urgent formation of connecting axis

The connection from Lach Huyen port to Gia Binh airport is currently through National Highway 5, Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway, National Highway 38 and provincial road systems 390D, 280, 281. However, there are problems when National Highway 5 and National Highway 38 are currently overloaded, exceeding 5 - 6 times the design capacity, leading to frequent congestion. Therefore, the study of investment in the route connecting Lach Huyen port with Gia Binh airport has become urgent, not only to form convenient traffic connections between the port area, economic zones, industrial zones and urban areas of Hai Phong with Bac Ninh but also to form an economic development corridor, expanding the city's development space after the merger.

According to Director of the Department of Construction Le Quy Tiep, the need to connect Lach Huyen port with Gia Binh airport is urgent and requires quick investment to ensure connectivity. The Department is urgently consulting and proposing to the city many options, both short-term and long-term.

Initially, 3 connecting routes will be deployed, including: Route 1, following the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway and provincial road 394B to provincial road 280 (Bac Ninh province) and to Gia Binh airport. Route 2, following the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway and Vo Nguyen Giap avenue extending to the Thai Binh river embankment road to provincial road 284 and to Gia Binh airport. Route 3, following the high-speed road connecting the East - West of Hai Phong city to Vo Nguyen Giap avenue extending to the Thai Binh river embankment road to provincial road 284 and to Gia Binh airport.

In the long term, the city is calculating and considering investing in a route following the North of National Highway 5 (also the North of the city), route: Tan Vu - Lach Huyen intersection - Ring Road 3 - to National Highway 10 (part of the climate change response project approved by the Prime Minister) - building a new route connecting National Highway 10 to Provincial Road 352, crossing the Han Cam River, connecting the Golden Canal Bridge to Gia Binh Airport, with a length of about 74.3 km.

Lach Huyen deep-water port and Gia Binh airport are likened to the "wings" of an airplane that need a complete connection to take off together. The investment plan for the northern route of the city is expected to open up a new economic development corridor when completed, attracting investment, developing industry and services, shortening travel distances, opening up trading opportunities; creating momentum for a comprehensive change in the socio-economic landscape, improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

PHAM CUONG

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/truc-ket-noi-san-bay-gia-binh-cang-lach-huyen-mo-rong-khong-giant-phat-trien-thanh-pho-hai-phong-519436.html