This is one of the new projects to be evaluated after Japan announced resumption of its official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in July.

In phase II, Tien Sa port has a total investment of between US$100-120 million and it is capable of receiving container ships of up to 70,000DWT and cruise ships of 100,000GRT.

“We do hope the project will get the nod from Japan as the port has been overloaded from its 20% growth annually over the years,” said the project manage net unit.

Tien Sa seaport need upgrading to receive large container ships

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) signed a memorandum of understanding with JICA in December 2013 to support a feasibility study and capital appraisal.

It asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to include the project in the priority list of projects seeking Japanese ODA in the 2014 fiscal year.

In the list are also three other projects to build an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for the expressway network in the north (JPY6.8 billion), 100 dilapidated bridges along highways (JPY30 billion), and a 2.7km road section (JPY10 billion) linking East-West Revenue and HCM City-Trung Luong expressway.

The MoT is working with relevant agencies to increase the transparency in loan management; it is also hastening key transport infrastructure projects using Japanese ODA.

The three Japanese ODA-funded projects in Hanoi, namely the Noi Bai Air Terminal No2, Nhat Tan bridge, and an access road linking Nhat Tan bridge and Noi Bai terminal, will be completed late this year as scheduled, according to MoT Minister Dinh La Thang.