Master plan on development of Vietnam's seaport system in a period of 2021 – 2030 with a vision to 2050

I. Viewpoints and objectives
1. Viewpoints
- Seaports are an important part of maritime infrastructure, socio-economic infrastructure, identified as one of the three strategic breakthroughs: socio-economic development with national defense - security and social security, adaptation to climate change; contributing to maintaining independence and sovereignty of sea and islands, strengthening international cooperation in sea, maintaining a peaceful, stable environment and sustainable development.
- To develop synchronous and modern maritime infrastructure, ensuring maritime safety and security, effectively connecting modes of transport; promote advantage of being the main mode of transporting large-volume goods, playing an important role in international freight transport, contributing to reducing logistics costs.
- To bring into play advantages of geographical location, associated with economic and urban development space; focus on developing international gateway ports capable of receiving ships of large tonnage traveling on long sea routes; take advantage of natural conditions, develop harmoniously and reasonably between seaports and urban development space; between seaport and inland port infrastructure, floating berths and transshipment anchorages.
- To mobilize all resources, especially non-budget resources for synchronous investment with a key focus on maritime infrastructure system; prioritize State resources for investment in public maritime infrastructure, especially international gateway ports; continue to promote effectiveness of decentralization in terms of resource mobilization and implementation for localities.
- Actively approach and promote application of achievements of the fourth industrial revolution in construction, management and exploitation towards building green seaports, saving energy and using efficiently resources of nature shoreline, water surface.
2. Objectives
a) Objectives to 2030
To develop a synchronous and modern seaport system with high quality services to meet needs of socio-economic development, ensure national defense - security, maritime safety and environmental protection, improve competitiveness of the economy, contributing to basically turning our country into a developing country with modern industry, high middle income by 2030 with a number of specific targets as follows:
- In terms of capacity: meeting needs of import and export of goods, trade among regions throughout the country and transshipment, transit goods for countries in the region as well as domestic and international passenger transport needs. The seaport system can handle goods from 1,140 to 1,423 million tons (of which, container cargo is from 38 to 47 million TEU); passengers from 10.1 to 10.3 million passengers.
- Regarding infrastructure: prioritize development of international gateway ports, Lach Huyen (Hai Phong), Cai Mep (Ba Ria - Vung Tau). Studying appropriate mechanisms and policies for step-by-step development of an international transshipment port at Van Phong (Khanh Hoa) to exploit potential of natural conditions and geographical location. Plan on development orientation of Tran De port (Soc Trang) serving the Mekong delta so that investment can be deployed when conditions are met; large-scale seaports serving socio-economic development of the whole country or inter-region; international passenger ports associated with tourism development motivation regions; large-scale ports serving economic and industrial zones; Ports in island districts serve socio-economic development in association with national defense and security and sovereignty over sea and islands.
b) Vision to 2050
- To develop a synchronous and modern seaport system on a par with the region and the world, meeting green port criteria; fully and effectively meeting the country's socio-economic development needs is the main pillar that plays the role of driving force, leading and successfully developing the maritime economy according to Resolution No. October 22, 2018 of the Eighth Conference of the 12th Central Committee of the Party on strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, contributing to turning our country into a strong sea nation and developed, high income country.
- Capacity of the seaport system to meet the demand through goods with an average growth rate of about 4.0 to 4.5%/year; average growth of passengers is about 1.2 to 1.3%/year.
II. Seaport system plan
1. Seaport subgroups
Vietnam's seaport system includes 05 groups:
- Seaport group No.1 includes 05 seaports: Hai Phong seaport, Quang Ninh seaport, Thai Binh seaport, Nam Dinh seaport and Ninh Binh seaport.
- Seaport group No.2 includes 6 seaports: Thanh Hoa seaport, Nghe An seaport, Ha Tinh seaport, Quang Binh seaport, Quang Tri seaport and Thua Thien Hue seaport.
- Seaport group No.3 includes 8 seaports: Da Nang seaport (including Hoang Sa island district), Quang Nam seaport, Quang Ngai seaport, Binh Dinh seaport, Phu Yen seaport, Khanh Hoa seaport, including the area of Truong Sa island district), Ninh Thuan seaport and Binh Thuan seaport.
- Seaport group No.4 includes 5 seaports: Ho Chi Minh City seaport, Dong Nai seaport, Ba Ria - Vung Tau seaport, Binh Duong seaport and Long An seaport.
- Seaport group No.5 includes 12 seaports: Can Tho seaport, Dong Thap seaport, Tien Giang seaport, Vinh Long seaport, Ben Tre seaport, An Giang seaport, Hau Giang seaport, Soc Trang seaport, Tra Vinh seaport, Ca Mau seaport, Bac Lieu seaport and Kien Giang seaport.
2. Seaport classification
According to the scale and functions, Vietnam's seaport system includes:
- Special seaports (02 seaports): Hai Phong seaport and Ba Ria - Vung Tau seaport.
- Class I seaports (15 seaports): Quang Ninh seaport, Thanh Hoa seaport, Nghe An seaport, Ha Tinh seaport, Thua Thien Hue seaport, Da Nang seaport, Quang Nam seaport, Quang Ngai seaport, Binh Dinh seaport, Khanh Hoa seaport, Ho Chi Minh City seaport, Dong Nai seaport, Can Tho seaport, Long An seaport, Tra Vinh seaport. Thanh Hoa seaport, Da Nang seaport and Khanh Hoa seaport have potential to become special seaports.
- Class II seaports (06 seaports): Quang Binh seaport, Quang Tri seaport, Ninh Thuan seaport, Binh Thuan seaport, Hau Giang seaport, Dong Thap seaport.
- Class III seaports (13 seaports): Thai Binh seaport, Nam Dinh seaport, Ninh Binh seaport, Phu Yen seaport, Binh Duong seaport, Vinh Long seaport, Tien Giang seaport, Ben Tre seaport, Soc Trang seaport, An Giang seaport, Kien Giang seaport, Bac Lieu seaport, Ca Mau seaport, Soc Trang seaport have potential to become a special seaport.
3. Port classification
- By type of cargo handling: general port, container terminal, bulk port, liquid/gas port and passenger port.
- According to scope of business activities: port provides cargo handling services and port does not provide cargo handling services.
4. Plan groups of seaports and port areas
a) Seaport group No. 1
By 2030, goods throughput from 305 to 367 million tons (container goods from 11 to 15 million TEU); passengers from 162,000 to 164,000 passengers.
Vision to 2050: to meet demand through goods with an average growth rate of between 5.0 and 5.3 %/year; passenger growth averaged from 1.5 to 1.6%/year. Complete investment in Lach Huyen and Cai Lan port areas and relocate wharves on forbidden rivers in accordance with Hai Phong city development plan; investing in and developing ports at Nam Do Son - Van Uc, Cam Pha and Hai Ha wharves.
b) Seaport group No.2
By 2030, goods throughput from 172 to 255 million tons (container goods from 0.6 to 1.0 million TEU); passengers from 202,000 to 204,000 passengers.
Vision to 2050: to meet demand through goods with an average growth rate of about 3.6 to 4.5%/year; Average passenger growth is about 0.4 to 0.5%/year. Complete investment and development of port clusters Nghi Son - Dong Hoi, Vung Ang and Son Duong - Hon La.
c) Seaport group No.3
By 2030, cargo throughput will be from 138 to 181 million tons (container cargo will reach from 1.8 to 2.5 million TEU); passengers from 1.9 to 2.0 million passengers.
Vision to 2050: meet demand through goods with an average growth rate of about 4.5 to 5.5%/year; passenger growth averaged from 1.7 to 1.8%/year. Complete investment in entire Lien Chieu port area (Da Nang) and form a port serving international transshipment goods at Van Phong (Khanh Hoa).
d) Group of seaports No.4
By 2030, goods throughput from 461 to 540 million tons (container cargo from 23 to 28 million TEU); passengers from 1.7 to 1.8 million passengers.
Vision to 2050: meet demand through goods with an average growth rate of about 3.5 to 3.8%/year; average passenger growth from 0.9 to 1.0%/year. Complete investment in Cai Mep Ha ports. Research on formation of new wharf areas in Can Gio (on Go Gia river), complete relocation of harbors on the Saigon river and continue to study relocation of other wharf areas suitable for spatial development urban Ho Chi Minh City.
e) Seaport group No.5
By 2030, goods throughput will be from 64 to 80 million tons (container goods from 0.6 to 0.8 million TEU); passengers from 6.1 to 6.2 million passengers.
Vision to 2050: meet demand through goods with an average growth rate of about 5.5 to 6.1%; average passenger growth from 1.1 to 1.25%. To form a gateway port in the Mekong Delta region.
(the scale of infrastructure of seaports and port areas by 2030 is detailed in the appendix attached to this Decision).
5. Public maritime infrastructure system
System of navigational channels, lighthouse works, anchorage and storm shelter for ships, infrastructure in service of maritime safety, specialized maritime state management, search and rescue. Accidents and ancillary works are planned and invested in accordance with size of seaports, fleet development trends, transportation needs in each period and the ability to balance and mobilize investment resources. (Details are in the appendix attached to this Decision).
III. Demand for land and water surface
Total demand for land use under master plan by 2030 is about 33,600 ha and total demand for using water surface to develop seaport system under master plan by 2030 is about 606,000 ha.
IV. Orientation of connected transport infrastructure
- To develop railway lines connecting with special class seaports and class I seaports on North-South corridor; to form wharves for inland waterway vessels in seaport waters; highway system connecting with special seaports, national highway system, local roads directly connecting to seaport system.
- Developing inland ports in economic zones and economic corridors, giving priority to planning locations with convenient connections by inland waterway transport, river and sea transport, expressway, railway to important seaports in the group of seaports.
V. Investment capital demand
Demand for investment capital in the seaport system by 2030 is about VND 313,000 billion (including only ports providing loading and unloading services), mobilized mainly from non-budget sources, corporate capital and other legal capital sources. State budget capital is concentrated for public maritime infrastructure; key areas, creating spillover effects and attracting investment.
VI. Priority investment projects
1. Public maritime infrastructure
Invest in upgrading Cai Mep - Thi Vai channel to serve ships up to 200,000 tons offload (18,000 TEU); channel project for large tonnage ships entering Hau river - phase 2 for ships up to 20,000 tons to reduce load; upgrade channel entering Nghi Son port, Chanh river channel, Cam Pha channel, Tho Quang channel and other channels; lighthouses on islands and archipelagos under Vietnam's sovereignty, infrastructure in service of maritime safety.
2. Seaport
Invest in next berths in Lach Huyen wharf area; the starting wharf area of Nam Do Son wharf (Hai Phong); Cai Mep - Thi Vai wharves (Ba Ria - Vung Tau); main ports of class I seaports; international passenger terminals associated with tourism development motivation regions; large-scale ports with coal, gas, petroleum and metallurgical power centers; wharves serving coastal economic zones; calling for investment in ports at potential seaports Van Phong and Tran De.
VII. Solution for implementation of the plan
1. Solutions on mechanisms and policies
- To perfect mechanisms and policies in the maritime sector in order to promote investment in development of seaport infrastructure, including forms of socialization, contributing to promoting development of shipping and maritime services.
- Priority is given to land and water surface funds for seaport development as plan.
- Continue to research and propose to apply an appropriate port management model to improve efficiency of management, investment and operation of seaports and seaport clusters (with priority given to important seaports). Strengthen cooperation and coordination to effectively exploit regional and inter-regional seaports.
- Research and apply open port policy at Lach Huyen, Cai Mep, Thi Vai and Van Phong port areas.
- Continue to study and perfect policies on prices and fees at seaports to improve efficiency of seaport investment, increase attractiveness of shipping lines and attract international transshipment containers.
2. Solutions on mobilizing investment capital
- Continue to improve mechanism and conditions to mobilize diverse domestic and foreign resources to invest in development of seaport infrastructure according to master plan and institutionalize solutions on decentralization and distribution, the right to mobilize resources; exploiting resources from land fund, water surface, revenue from leasing and exploiting port infrastructure investment from the State budget.
- To encourage and create favorable conditions for organizations and enterprises of all economic sectors to participate in investment, development and operation of seaports; continue to promote socialization of investment and development of seaport infrastructure. Strengthening role of enterprises in sharing responsibility for investment and maintenance of public infrastructure at seaports as part of their seaport operation investment projects.
3. Solutions on environment, science and technology
- Promote science, technology, modern techniques, application of digital technology and digital transformation in construction, management and operation of the seaport system in line with trend of the fourth industrial revolution, meeting meet green port criteria.
- Prioritize investment, development and effective use of the national single-window information technology system.
4. Solutions on human resource development
Training and attracting high-quality human resources, especially in management and exploitation of seaport infrastructure; study and implement mechanism of ordering training and fostering human resources in the fields related to port management and operation.
5. Solutions for international cooperation
- Strengthen domestic and foreign investment promotion through preferential policies, creating favorable conditions for investment and business activities.
- Implement regional and international treaties and agreements on the sea to which Vietnam is a signatory; study and join relevant international treaties.
- Strengthen cooperation, enlist support of partners and international organizations to develop human resources, protect environment, prevent natural disasters and adapt to climate change.
6. Solutions on organization of implementation and supervision of implementation of the plan
- Strengthen coordination, inspection and supervision of implementation of the master plan to ensure that seaports are invested and exploited according to their functions, scale and approved plan roadmap; ensure synchronization between seaports and related infrastructures. Periodically organize seaport conferences to resolve related issues.
- Encourage research and application of solutions to effectively exploit seaport infrastructure, ensure that ships with larger tonnage and reduced load can enter and leave ports on basis of ensuring good conditions, maritime safety, security, fire prevention and environmental protection.
- Construction of seaports is associated with formation and development of synchronous goods distribution centers, post-port logistics services and other logistics services.
- Ports and wharves subject to relocation shall be implemented according to the plan route.
VIII. Organizing implementation
1. Ministry of Transport
- To assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with concerned ministries, branches and People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities in managing and organizing implementation of the master plan. Periodically organize assessment, review and adjustment of the master plan to suit the socio-economic development situation in each period as prescribed. Make publication of the plan in accordance with law on planning.
- To provide information on plan into information system, national database on plan according to regulations.
- To deploy the plan, advise and propose necessary solutions to implement the plan synchronously, feasible and effectively; assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches in reviewing and proposing amendments and supplements to the policy on fees and service prices at seaports.
- To organize elaboration, approval and submission of technical and specialized plans for approval (detailed plan for groups of seaports, ports, wharves, floating terminals, water zones and water areas; detailed plan for land development; seaport waters; inland port system development plan) in accordance with law on plan.
- To coordinate with Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment to arrange the annual budget for implementation of the plan.
2. Ministries and branches shall, according to their functions, tasks and powers, coordinate with Ministry of Transport and People's Committees of provinces and cities in allocating resources and proposing mechanisms and policies in order to feasibly and effectively implement the plan objectives, ensure the consistency and synchronization with implementation of the 10-year socio-economic development strategy in a period of 2021-2030, the socio-economic development plan each sector and locality.
3. People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities
- People's Committees at all levels shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, organize the performance of State management of maritime traffic in accordance with relevant laws within their respective localities; strictly manage the land fund for planning implementation.
- Review, develop and adjust plans and projects in locality to ensure consistency and synchronization with this plan. Update content of the provincial plan to ensure compliance with local traffic development orientations according to this plan, to meet requirements of sustainable development and environmental protection.

Source: Vitic/ thuvienphapluat.vn