Ports at Cai Mep - Thi Vai are piloted to receive international passenger ships until June 2026.

The Ministry of Construction continues to allow a number of ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area to pilot receiving international passenger ships until June 30, 2026.

A 5-star international passenger ship docks at Cai Mep - Thi Vai port, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province - Photo: D.H

On the afternoon of October 17, the Ministry of Construction sent a dispatch to the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration approving the policy of continuing to receive international passenger ships at a number of ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area.

Accordingly, in order to take advantage of the existing seaport infrastructure and meet the needs of tourism development in the area, the Ministry of Construction approved the policy to continue receiving international passenger ships at 9 ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City seaport as they have been receiving in the past until June 30, 2026. The size of the passenger ships to be received is consistent with the size of the ship in the decision to announce the port.

The Ministry of Construction assigns the Vietnam Maritime Administration to be responsible for agreeing on specific contents according to specialized maritime regulations and relevant legal provisions.

At the same time, guide, supervise and request port enterprises to: review and arrange adequate equipment, develop plans to receive international passenger ships to ensure passenger and port safety, ensure maritime security and safety, fire prevention and fighting, etc.; promptly complete procedures to add port functions to receive international passenger ships for official announcement according to regulations before June 30, 2026.

Previously, in an official dispatch sent to the Ministry of Construction, the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration said that according to the seaport planning for the period up to 2020, with a vision to 2030 and the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port area includes 24 ports with the functions of operating specialized, general, container, bulk, liquid and gas (not operating passenger ships).

Among them, there is a port planned to operate passenger ships and a tourism service complex to receive ships with a capacity of up to 225,000 GT, Vung Tau International Passenger Port, but it has not yet been invested in and built.

In recent years, due to the urgent need to exploit international passenger ship routes in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Department of Tourism have sent documents to the maritime management agency requesting support and priority to receive passenger ships at some ports that do not have the function of exploiting passenger ships in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area.

On that basis, the Vietnam Maritime Administration previously directed port authorities to coordinate with businesses, shipping lines and tourism companies to work with seaport businesses to arrange suitable ports to receive passenger ships...

From 2018 to present, 9 ports in Cai Mep - Thi Vai area have safely received 277 large international passenger ships up to 168,666 GT.

Regarding the reason for requesting ports to stop receiving passenger ships, the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration said that up to now, port enterprises have not proactively adjusted and supplemented their functions and completed the procedures to officially announce the port as an official passenger ship port.

Based on the results of safe passenger ship operations in recent times and to maintain international tourist transport routes to Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration recommends that the Ministry of Construction continue to allow the pilot reception of international passenger ships at a number of ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area from now until December 31, 2025.

At the same time, the Department recommended that the Ministry of Construction direct relevant units to review and propose adjustments and supplements to the planning of international passenger ship functions at some ports in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area; request port enterprises to urgently complete procedures to adjust and supplement port functions to officially operate international passenger ships.

TUAN PHUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cac-cang-tai-cai-mep-thi-vai-duoc-thi-diem-don-tau-khach-quoc-te-den-het-6-2026-20251017183900174.htm