Consortium behind $1.72 bln Lien Chieu container port project

A consortium comprising Hateco Group, Hateco Seaport Co., Ltd. and APM Terminals (Netherlands) has been selected to develop the Lien Chieu container port project, marking the participation of a global port operator in a strategic infrastructure project in central Vietnam.

The investment decision was approved by Le Quang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Danang People’s Committee. Accordingly, the winning consortium is led by APM Terminals B.V., with a commitment to contribute VND1 trillion ($37.94 million) to the state budget.

The project is scheduled to be implemented over nearly 10 years. Container throughput is expected to reach 4 million TEUs per year within three years of the first phase becoming operational. The project will have a lifespan of 50 years from the date of land and sea area allocation.

Global operator with local track record

APM Terminals, established in 2001, is a port and terminal operator under A.P. Moller - Maersk, headquartered in Copenhagen. Its headquarters later moved to The Hague, the Netherlands. The company operates more than 70 ports and terminals across 38 countries and provides integrated logistics and global supply chain services.

APM Terminals has had an early presence in Vietnam. In 2007, it joined a joint venture at the Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT), alongside Vietnam Maritime Corporation and Saigon Port.

CMIT, located in the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, now part of Ho Chi Minh City, is a deep-water container port with a capacity exceeding 1.1 million TEUs and the ability to handle vessels of up to 160,000 DWT, making it one of the few ports in Southeast Asia capable of accommodating some of the world’s largest container ships.

With extensive experience in port operations and shipping, APM Terminals is seen as well-positioned to address technical and operational challenges and deliver large-scale infrastructure projects.

Vietnamese partner expands footprint

Hateco Group, founded in 2004, is a Vietnamese multi-sector conglomerate operating in real estate, logistics, industrial real estate, and port development.

The company has been involved in several infrastructure projects, including berths No. 5 and 6 at Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong city, Bac Tien Phong Industrial Park in Quang Ninh province, and the Long Bien ICD inland container depot in Hanoi.

Hateco Group is headquartered at No. 1 Huynh Tan Phat street, Sai Dong B Industrial Zone, Long Bien ward, Hanoi, with Tran Van Ky (born in 1964) as chairman of the board of directors and legal representative.

Under Ky's leadership, the group has expanded into an ecosystem of subsidiaries spanning infrastructure, logistics, and trade.

Hateco currently comprises seven member companies, including Hateco Logistics, Hateco Thang Long, and Hateco Long Bien, among others.

The group focuses on four core pillars: real estate, logistics services, industrial park infrastructure and port investment and construction. In October 2020, it increased its charter capital to VND6.9 trillion ($261.87 million) from VND1.68 trillion.

Hateco Seaport Co., Ltd., another consortium member, was established in May 2025 with charter capital of VND1.38 trillion and operates in cargo handling.

Hateco and APM Terminals are also strategic partners in the Hateco Hai Phong International Container Port project, aiming to develop a modern, large-scale and sustainable port in northern Vietnam.

Their cooperation began in the first quarter of 2024 under a strategic partnership agreement to develop two deep-water berths at Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong city, with APM Terminals providing financial, commercial and technical support.

Competitive bidding and project scale

Before being awarded to the Vietnam-Netherlands consortium, the Lien Chieu project attracted interest from multiple international investors.

Two consortiums reached the final round: the Hateco-APM Terminals consortium and another comprising Vietnam Maritime Corporation and Terminal Investment Limited Holding S.A.

A separate consortium involving India’s Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and T&T Group did not submit a final bid.

The Lien Chieu container port project will be developed in Hai Van ward, covering approximately 172 hectares, including 146 hectares of land and nearly 26 hectares of water surface.

Total investment is estimated at more than VND45.2 trillion (around $1.72 billion).

The port will include eight container berths with a total quay length of 2,750 metres, capable of accommodating vessels of up to 18,000 TEUs. Total designed capacity is projected at 5.7 million TEUs per year, equivalent to 74 million tons of cargo.

The project will also feature barge berths for vessels of up to 5,000 tons to support cargo consolidation and distribution, helping to reduce pressure on road transport and lower logistics costs.

Construction is expected to continue through the first quarter of 2036. In the first phase (2025-2028), the investor will build and operate at least two berths along with supporting infrastructure.

The Lien Chieu container port is envisioned as a green port and international transshipment hub, aligned with Vietnam’s seaport development strategy through 2030 with a vision to 2050.