Four new container terminals to be built in northern Vietnam economic hub

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has granted in-principle approval for the development of four new container terminals at Lach Huyen Port in the northern city of Hai Phong.

The terminals - No. 9 through No. 12 - will be located at the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone, with a total length of 1,800 meters (450 meters per terminal). They are designed to accommodate container ships with capacities ranging from 12,000 to 18,000 TEUs.

The project also includes a 400-meter berth dedicated to receiving and dispatching barges through inland waterways.

Other components include the construction of container yards, a repair workshop, internal roads, auxiliary facilities, and synchronized technical infrastructure to ensure full port operation.

It will also involve investments in modern, specialized cargo handling equipment.

The project will span a total land and water surface area of approximately 146.2 hectares.

With a total investment capital of VND24.85 trillion ($950.76 million), it will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1, from 2026 to 2030, will cover the construction of terminals 9 and 10, while phase 2, from 2031 to 2035, will involve the remainder.

The municipal People’s Committee has been tasked with selecting investors in line with established procedures and regulations. The project will have an operational term of up to 70 years.

Once completed, it will link the main port with the adjacent free trade and logistics zones, accelerating cargo circulation, enhancing regional competitiveness, and driving investment.

The development also aims to fully capitalize on the natural and geographical advantages of the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone.

It aligns with and concretizes the country's master plan for seaport system development for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. It is expected to boost socio-economic growth in Hai Phong city in particular and northern Vietnam more broadly.

At present, Lach Huyen Port comprises a total of eight terminals that are either operational or under construction.

Terminals 1 and 2 have a combined designed capacity of 1.1 million TEUs per year and entered operation in 2018. In 2024, cargo throughput there reached 1.6 million TEUs, equivalent to around 19 million tons.

Terminals 5 and 6, with a combined designed capacity of 1.6 million TEUs per year, began operations in February 2025. Terminals 3 and 4, with the same capacity, followed in April.

Terminals 7 and 8 are currently in the investment preparation phase and are slated to begin operations in 2027.

Hai Phong city and Hai Duong province recently merged to become new Hai Phong city.