Vietnam Adopts Seaport Development Master Plan in 2021-2030 and to 2050

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh recently signed Decision 1579/QD-TTg dated September 22, 2021 approving the Master Plan for Vietnam Seaport System Development in 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

Priority for Lach Tray (Hai Phong) and Cai Mep (Ba Ria - Vung Tau) Ports

According to the master plan to 2030, Vietnam will develop a synchronous and modern seaport system with high-quality services to meet socioeconomic development demands, ensure national defense and security, maritime safety and environmental protection, and improve economic competitiveness to give a helping hand for Vietnam to become a basically industrially developed and high-middle income country by 2030.

The master plan shows that the capacity of the seaport system can meet the demand for export, import and trade across the country, cargo transshipment and transit to other countries in the region and passenger transportation. The seaport system can handle goods from 1,140 to 1,423 million tons (of which container cargo is counted for 38 - 47 million TEUs) and carry 10.1 to 10.3 million passengers.

Regarding infrastructure, priority should be given to international port development: Lach Huyen (Hai Phong) and Cai Mep (Ba Ria-Vung Tau). Studying appropriate mechanisms and policies to gradually develop an international transshipment port in Van Phong (Khanh Hoa) to unlock potential natural conditions and geographical location. If necessary, Tran De Port (Soc Trang) province will be developed to serve the Mekong Delta. Large-scale seaports for national or regional socioeconomic development, international passenger terminals in tourism-developed regions; large-scale ports for economic and Industrial Parks; island ports for socioeconomic development combined with national defense and security and sovereignty over sea and islands will be developed.

According to the plan, for connectivity infrastructure, railways will be developed to link special seaports and first-class seaports on the North-South corridor; wharves for inland waterway vessels in seaport waters will be built; highways linked to special seaports, national highways and local roads directly linked to seaports will be constructed.

In addition, Vietnam will develop inland ports in economic zones and economic corridors, give priority to locations with easy access to inland waterways, river and sea routes, expressways and railways to key seaports.

Five seaport groups

According to the master plan, Vietnam's seaport system consists of five groups:

Group 1 consists of five seaports: Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh. By 2030, cargo throughput in Group 1 will range from 305 million tons to 367 million tons (container goods: 11 - 15 million TEUs) and passenger arrivals will reach 162,000 - 164,000. By 2050, these ports will meet an average annual growth of 5.0 - 5.3% in cargo and 1.5 - 1.6% in passengers. Vietnam will complete investment in Lach Huyen and Cai Lan ports; relocate ports on Cam River to match Hai Phong Port Development Plan; and invest in and develop wharves in Nam Do Son - Van Uc, Cam Pha and Hai Ha areas.

Group 2 comprises six seaports: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue. By 2030, cargo throughput in Group 2 will be between 172 million tons to 255 million tons (container goods: 0.6 - 1 million TEUs) and passenger arrivals will reach 202,000 - 204,000. By 2050, these ports will meet an average annual growth of 3.6 - 4.5% in cargo and 0.4 - 0.5% in passengers. The country will complete investing in port clusters in Nghi Son - Dong Hoi, Vung Ang and Son Duong - Hon La.

Group 3 includes eight seaports: Da Nang (including Hoang Sa island district), Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa (including Truong Sa island district), Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan. By 2030, cargo throughput in Group 3 will reach from 138 million tons to 181 million tons (container goods: 1.8 - 2.5 million TEUs) and passenger arrivals will climb to 1.9 - 2 million. By 2050, these ports will meet an average annual demand growth of 4.5 - 5.5% in cargo and 1.7 - 1.8% in passengers. The country will complete investment for port areas in Lien Chieu (Da Nang) and form an international cargo transshipment terminal in Van Phong (Khanh Hoa).

Group 4 has five seaports: Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Long An. By 2030, cargo throughput in Group 4 will climb to 461 million tons to 540 million tons (container goods: 23 - 28 million TEUs) and passenger arrivals will reach 1.7 - 1.8 million. By 2050, these facilities will meet an average annual demand growth of 3.5 - 3.8% in cargo and 0.9 - 1.0% in passengers. The country will complete relocating harbors on the Saigon River and other wharf areas to match urbanization development in Ho Chi Minh City.

Group 5 is composed of 12 seaports: Can Tho, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang. By 2030, cargo throughput in Group 5 will reach 64 million tons to 80 million tons (container goods: 0.6 - 0.8 million TEUs) and passenger arrivals will rise to 6.1 - 6.2 million. By 2050, these facilities will meet an average annual demand growth of 5.5 - 6.1% in cargo and 1.1 - 1.25% in passengers. Ports for the Mekong Delta will be formed.

The fund for seaport development to 2030 is estimated at VND313 trillion (US$13.6 billion), primarily sourced from non-government sources. The State budget will be invested in public infrastructure and motivational areas.

Quynh Anh (Vietnam Business Forum)