Master planning for road transportation and seaport network in Vietnam is expected to have strategic significance and be able to solve current economic bottlenecks.

Hanoi-Haiphong expressway. Photo: Pham Hung

The Government Office released the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in reference to the master plans for networks of road and seaports in Vietnam in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Under the conclusion, Prime Minister Chinh requested the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to soon finalize five major master plans, including road, railway, seaports, airports, and inland waterway, while urging the ministry to ensure harmonization between socio-economic development with national security, social welfare, and climate resilience.

“Master plan for road transportation should strengthen linkage and connectivity between different transportation modes for greater efficiency,” stated the conclusion.

Chinh noted the seaports should be the hubs for goods and passenger transportation as the country aims to maximize the benefits of 3,000 kilometers of coastline. 

With this in mind, the PM expected priority would be given for seaports serving as international gateways, such as Lach Huyen in the northern city of Haiphong, and Cai Mep Thi Vai in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in the south.

Both ports form a major economic corridor connecting Vietnam’s key economic centers, namely Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to China and Cambodia.

According to Chinh, the government would diversify financial sources for transport infrastructure development, mobilizing funding from the state budget, government bond issuance, ODA, and the private sector.