Paradox of lack of dry ports but many projects are abandoned
Sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Le Quang Trung - Deputy General Director of Vietnam National Shipping Lines (VIMC) - said that Vietnam has strongly developed the seaport system, inland waterway transportation and gateway port centers, and at the same time started building a transit port (Transshipment Port).
Road, rail and maritime connections are being expanded, helping to connect Vietnam with regional markets such as China, Laos, Cambodia in the East-West direction and international transport.
However, Mr. Trung emphasized that Vietnam's international seaport system (ICD) is still lacking in both quantity and quality. Many spontaneous ICDs do not meet the requirements for multi-modal connectivity with roads, railways, sea and air. While the quantity is lacking, the quality of the current ICDs has not met expectations.
The dry ports have not yet provided value-added services, supported import and export, and enhanced the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods. These systems have not supported much international trade circulation.
Mr. Le Duy Hiep, former Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Service Business Association, said that according to Decision 979/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, in the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the whole country is expected to have 125 dry ports. Of which, the North has 57 ports, the Central and Central Highlands have 19 ports, and the South has 49 ports.
However, according to Decision 287/QD-BXD dated March 21, 2025 of the Ministry of Construction, Vietnam currently has only 17 officially announced dry ports.
A paradox is that despite the shortage and weakness of dry ports, many projects have been licensed for a decade but have not been implemented. In Hanoi - a large logistics center with about 25,000 enterprises - to date, only Long Bien dry port has been recognized.
Two major projects, ICD My Dinh (Duc Thuong commune, Hoai Duc district, investment capital of VND 1,704 billion) and ICD Co Bi (Long Bien district, capital of VND 2,560 billion) are expected to solve the "thirst" for logistics infrastructure. However, despite being approved for nearly 10 years, according to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper at the end of March 2025, both are still just abandoned land, with thousands of billions of VND spent on fees.
Need to promote measures to develop dry ports
Mr. Le Duy Hiep said that in order to realize the dream of turning Vietnam into a world logistics center, the role of dry ports is not small. Mr. Le Duy Hiep emphasized that ICD is considered a logistics center.
In the coming time, Vietnam needs to have appropriate policies to promote the effectiveness of ICD operations. In particular, local planning related to ICD activities needs to be synchronous with the central planning, have a long-term vision, be suitable for reality, avoid serving group interests, or planning is not feasible.
Expressing his views on the development of dry port projects, Mr. Le Quang Trung - Deputy General Director of Vietnam National Shipping Lines - said that with the support of the Government, appropriate policies and determination in developing a connecting system, Vietnam can build a logistics system associated with the marine economy.
According to Mr. Trung, at that time, the true ICDs in Hanoi and across the country will be implemented in accordance with market expectations.
Mr. Le Quang Trung said that to develop inland ports (ICD), it is necessary to choose locations with high connectivity between road, rail and air. ICD must meet the needs of goods circulation for economic zones, localities and conveniently connect with the international community.
He emphasized that Vietnam is stepping up the expansion of road, rail and maritime routes, connecting with China, Laos, Cambodia and soon being an international transit port of Can Gio and Lien Chieu.
To take advantage of the opportunity to become a global logistics link, it is necessary to develop a synchronous infrastructure, in which ICD plays the role of a logistics center, supporting import-export, distribution and providing value-added services on a technology platform and digital transformation.
