Hai Phong city to become major global seaport city by 2050

The northern city of Hai Phong is aiming to become a major seaport city in Asia and the world by 2050, built on the development pillars of seaport-logistics services; green, smart, modern industry; and marine tourism.

This is part of the city's freshly approved master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Regarding the first pillar, Hai Phong aims to become an international hub for modern logistics services. Lach Huyen and Nam Do Son ports will form a gateway port cluster serving international transshipment.

The Southern Hai Phong Coastal Economic Zone will be set up, housing a free trade zone that uses breakthrough mechanisms and policies that have been successfully applied at free trade zones around the world.

Hai Phong will become a leading locality in digital transformation and in developing a digital government, digital society and digital economy. It will promote comprehensive digital transformation in accordance with the National Digital Transformation Program; and form and develop a safe and convenient digital environment.

As for tourism development, the city plans to build a highly attractive Cat Ba-Do Son beach tourism complex, which will be combined with the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay in neighboring Quang Ninh province to become an international marine tourism center. It will develop signature tourism products associated with sea, islands, and historical and cultural relic sites.

Hai Phong will link with other provinces in the Red River Delta to form a tourism center connecting the Asian region with the world; while effectively tapping its potential and strengths, especially the values of the world natural heritage Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago.

By 2030, the master plan sets to develop Hai Phong into a major seaport city that leads the country in industrialization, modernization and digital transformation. It will serve as a driving force for the development of the northern region and the whole country, with a modern, smart and sustainable industry.

Hai Phong will have synchronous and modern transportation infrastructure with convenient domestic and international connections by road, rail, sea, air and inland waterways. It is expected to become a modern marine economic center of global stature, with a focus on seaport services, logistics and marine tourism.

Hai Phong will become an international center for education, training, research, application and development of science and technology.

The city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the 2021-2030 period is expected to grow about 13.5% per year, contributing about 6.8% to the country's GDP by 2030.

Industry-construction will account for 51.7% of the economic structure; the service industry 43.2%; and agriculture, forestry and fisheries 1.0%. Its GRDP per capita (current prices) is estimated at $21,700.

The digital economy will reach about 40% of the city's GRDP. The Human Development Index (HDI) will be among the top five provinces and cities nationwde, while the poverty rate will fall to below 0.1% and all residents will have access to clean water.

The rate of domestic solid waste collected and treated according to standards is set to reach 100%. Thuy Nguyen district will be upgraded to a town.

Handing over the decision approving the master plan to municipal leaders at a ceremony on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed the master plan will open up new opportunities and development spaces to help Hai Phong develop into a major seaport city in the region and the world.

“To effectively implement the master plan, Hai Phong needs to complete an action plan to realize the master plan, prioritizing the implementation of inter-regional connection infrastructure, seaports, logistics, and digital infrastructure project, and the development of a synchronous, modern, interconnected, climate-adaptive urban infrastructure system,” he noted.

Ha also asked for promoting rapid economic model transformation through the development of digital economic ecosystems, clean energy, and green tourism.

“It is necessary to focus on integrated and unified management of natural resources and environmental protection; conserving biodiversity and natural marine ecosystems; proactively responding to climate change and rising sea levels; and promoting the sustainable development of the marine economy on the foundation of green growth," said the Deputy PM.