Strategic Role of Cat Hai Special Zone

Cat Hai Special Zone, a unique administrative model in Hai Phong City, was established under Resolution No. 1669/NQ-UBTVQH15 and officially began operations on July 1, 2025. It functions as a testing ground for an innovative governance model, designed to drive rapid and sustainable growth.

As part of Hai Phong’s strategy to become a modern hub for industry, logistics, and maritime economy by 2030, Cat Hai Special Zone has been designated a strategic component, leading the city’s maritime growth corridor and extending development momentum across the Northern Coastal region.

Hai Phong City People’s Committee Chairman Le Ngoc Chau and the delegation inspect the Cai Gia urban tourism project (Cat Ba Amatina), December 24, 2025

Institutional innovation

The creation of the special zone demonstrates the strong innovation-driven approach of the central government and Hai Phong City in shaping development spaces and governance models. From its inception, Cat Hai Special Zone has defined its core mission as establishing a “next-generation growth engine,” capable of driving economic restructuring and linking Hai Phong to regional and global supply chains, especially in ports, high-tech industries, and high-value maritime services.

The main advantage of the special zone model is not in expanding administrative control but in creating a transparent, stable, and predictable institutional environment that inspires investor confidence for long-term commitments. The special zone government functions as an enabler and partner, while enterprises remain the primary drivers of development.

Lach Huyen International Seaport

Cat Hai’s development vision is built on three strategic pillars, closely integrated into a unified whole.

First, the development of modern port, industrial, and logistics space linked with Lach Huyen International Gateway Port and Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone. On this foundation, the government focuses on completing infrastructure, institutional frameworks, and coordination mechanisms, allowing enterprises to take the lead.

Second, attracting high-tech industries, clean industries, and specialized maritime services in line with sustainable maritime economic orientation, limiting resource-intensive sectors and environmentally risky industries.

Third, gradually building a modern, green, and smart coastal city that is climate-resilient and aligned with international standards for living environment and urban management.

These three pillars form Cat Hai’s distinctive development identity, avoiding duplication and internal competition while complementing Hai Phong’s overall development strategy.

New growth pole

A major advantage of the special zone model is its proactive and flexible approach to execution. Since July 2025, Cat Hai Special Zone has operated a public administration center under a “single-window” system, accelerating the digitalization of procedures for investment, construction, land, and environmental management.

Accordingly, administrative reform in Cat Hai Special Zone has focused on three priorities: (1) standardizing and publicly disclosing all procedures and processing times for easy access and cost forecasting; (2) actively supporting and resolving obstacles during project implementation, particularly for infrastructure and port-related activities; (3) establishing selective incentive mechanisms targeting high-tech, clean industry, and high-value maritime service projects.

The overarching goal of these measures is for enterprises operating in Cat Hai to experience a clear difference in administrative quality, processing speed, and efficiency of support.

As a coastal-island area with unique value, Cat Hai has clearly committed to not trading off the environment for growth. The chosen development model is a modern, green, and sustainable maritime economic zone, where economic growth is closely linked with resource and ecosystem protection.

Development planning is structured with clearly defined functional zones, prioritizing projects using advanced, energy-efficient technologies, while implementing programs to protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems, especially mangroves and shoreline areas. By 2030, Cat Hai aims to be not only a major maritime economic center but also a model of green development for Northern Vietnam’s coastal economic zones.

Entering the 2026-2030 period, Cat Hai Special Zone is expected to fully demonstrate its role as a growth engine, attract high-quality investment, drive Hai Phong’s maritime economy and logistics, and deliver long-term value to the city’s sustainable development.

With a consistent approach of “leveraging flexible institutions as a competitive advantage and government partnership as a commitment,” Cat Hai Special Zone is gradually establishing itself as a new growth pole, contributing to Hai Phong’s ambition to become a modern industrial city and a regional maritime economic hub.

Ha Thanh (Vietnam Business Forum)