My Thuy deepwater port to become central Vietnam logistics hub

My Thuy Deepwater Port, once operational, will not only create a new growth pole for the central province of Quang Tri and serve as a gateway to the East Sea, but also become a regional logistics hub.

The project, developed by My Thuy International Port Joint Venture Company (MTIP), was given in-principle approval by the Prime Minister on January 4, 2019.

The port is located in the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone in Hai Lang district, with a planned scale of 10 berths and a total investment of VND14.23 trillion ($545.73 million).

The 685-hectare port will feature 10 berths developed in three phases - four in phase 1 (2018-2025), three in phase 2 (2026-2031), and the remaining three in the final phase (2032-2036).

According to the provincial People's Committee, at the current pace, the locality is expected to have at least one berth capable of receiving ships of 50,000 DWT operational by 2025.

Once completed, My Thuy Port will be connected to the Lao Bao International Border Gate via the trans-Asian railway, to the La Lay International Border Gate via National Highway 15D, and to the North-South Expressway. These connections will shorten maritime routes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

This advantage will make the port a crucial transportation hub, not only serving the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone but also becoming an international transshipment center for goods in transit to and from neighboring countries such as Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

With its strategic location and capacity to accommodate large vessels, the port is expected to promote regional connectivity, attract investment, and foster economic development, especially among countries along the East-West Economic Corridor.

Currently, the demand for cargo transport along the East-West Economic Corridor via seaports in Quang Tri and the central region of Vietnam is increasing, particularly in bulk shipments of coal from Laos’s Sekong province through Vietnamese border gates.

Given its advantageous location near international maritime routes and countries along the East-West Economic Corridor (Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar), My Thuy Port is well-positioned to become a vital transshipment hub for goods moving between these countries and Vietnam.

Additionally, the port will be connected to industrial zones and economic areas within the region, as well as major road and rail networks, facilitating efficient cargo transport.

The construction and operation of My Thuy Port will drive economic growth and attract investment in sectors such as transportation, logistics, services, and tourism. The port is expected to boost socio-economic development in Quang Tri province and surrounding areas.

To further enhance the port’s role, MTIP proposed the provincial People’s Committee allow it to study such projects as an 86-hectare logistics zone with a total investment of VND2.23 trillion ($85.92 million); a 154-hectare coal blending, classification, and storage complex that would import coal from Indonesia, Australia, and Russia to mix with Laotian coal; and a 156-hectare free trade zone.