Central Vietnam economic hub okays investors for $1.72 bln mega container port project

Authorities in Danang city have approved investors for the nearly VND45.27 trillion ($1.72 billion) Lien Chieu container port project, marking a major step toward developing a new international gateway port in central Vietnam.

Danang's Deputy Chairman Le Quang Nam has signed a decision approving the investor selection for the comprehensive construction of Lien Chieu container port, located in Hai Van ward, according to a municipal People’s Committee statement on Monday.

The winning consortium comprises Hateco Group, Hateco Seaport Company, and APM Terminals B.V. of the Netherlands which is the lead partner.

The investors have committed to contributing VND1 trillion ($38.04 million) to the state budget during the project’s implementation.

According to the plan, three years after the first phase becomes operational, the Lien Chieu container port is expected to handle about 4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually.

The project will operate for 50 years from the date the land or maritime area is allocated or leased. The total implementation timeline is estimated at 3,639 days.

The city has assigned its priority infrastructure investment project management board to coordinate with relevant agencies to carry out subsequent procedures per regulations.

Local departments will guide the investor in completing requirements related to land use, environmental approvals, planning, construction, and financial obligations to ensure the project proceeds on schedule.

The selected investor is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and transparency of its bidding documents and for demonstrating sufficient financial capacity to carry out the project as committed.

The Lien Chieu container port project will cover about 172.6 hectares, including nearly 147 hectares of land and around 25.7 hectares of water area in front of the berths.

The development will include eight container berths with a total quay length of about 2,750 meters, capable of accommodating container ships of up to 18,000 TEUs.

The port’s total designed capacity is expected to reach about 5.7 million TEUs per year, equivalent to roughly 74 million tons of cargo annually.

Construction will take place in three phases from 2026 to 2036, gradually developing the port terminals, hinterland facilities, and supporting logistics infrastructure.

Once completed, the container port is expected to become an international gateway for central Vietnam, helping reduce congestion at Tien Sa Port while boosting logistics, trade, and supply chain development for Danang and the wider Central and Central Highlands regions.

Danang city and Quang Nam province were merged last July to form the new Danang. The city now covers nearly 12,000 square kilometers with a population of more than 3 million, along with a strategic infrastructure network that includes two airports and four seaports, creating favorable conditions for the development of industrial zones, logistics centers, and financial services.

Notably, the Danang Free Trade Zone (FTZ), the first of its kind in Vietnam, was announced in mid-2025. In addition, the Vietnam International Financial Center in Danang officially began operations at the beginning of 2026.

On October 20, 2025, the municipal management board for priority infrastructure projects issued bidding invitations to three investors with valid qualifications. By December 24, 2025, the bidding process was closed and the bid opening ceremony was held.

At the time of bid closing, two investors submitted bids, namely the consortium of Hateco Group (Vietnam) - Hateco Seaport Co., Ltd. (Vietnam) - APM Terminals B.V. (the Netherlands); and the consortium of Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) - Terminal Investment Limited Holding (Luxembourg). The consortium of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. (India) - T&T Group (Vietnam) did not submit a bid.