Hai Phong reclaims the sea and builds a career

Lach Huyen port area regularly welcomes large tonnage ships docking, and cargo exploitation is bustling. Photo: LE DUNG

Reaching out to sea

From a poor and sparsely populated island, in the past 5 years, Cat Hai has changed surprisingly with a completely new appearance. Lach Huyen area has become an international gateway port with modern cranes and a vast container yard. Large ships, tens of meters high, come and go busily, the ship's horn sounds loudly. Today, Cat Hai is affirming its position as a highlight on Hai Phong's journey to the sea, building a new foundation, standing shoulder to shoulder with the top 29 seaports with the most cargo traffic in the world. Along with that, Dinh Vu - Cat Hai economic zone is the stopping place and choice of many leading domestic and international corporations.

According to statistics from the City People's Committee, from 2019 to now, the city has converted more than 930 hectares of sea surface into land. Of which, more than 728 hectares are used to build industrial parks - duty-free zones. A typical example is Xuan Cau Industrial Park in Cat Hai with more than 90% of the area reclaimed from the sea. This is an industrial park associated with Lach Huyen international gateway port, convenient for developing a synchronous and modern "port - industrial park - urban" logistics model.

About 201 hectares are reserved for the development of a connecting traffic system, including the route after Tan Vu - Lach Huyen port, the main routes connecting ports 3, 4, 5, 6 with the national highway network are being urgently deployed. In addition, a part of the area is allocated for cultural and historical infrastructure such as Ben Nghieng and Vung Xec areas to serve tourism development and preserve traditional values.

At the 29th session of the 16th Hai Phong City People's Council (after merging with Hai Duong ), the 5-year land use plan for the period 2021 - 2025 was approved. The total natural land area of the city was determined to be 320,402 hectares, of which the area of Hai Duong province (formerly) was 166,828 hectares, remaining unchanged. In particular, the natural land area of Hai Phong city (formerly) was adjusted to increase from 152,652 hectares to 153,574 hectares. This adjustment includes an increase of 930.41 hectares due to sea encroachment and a decrease of 8.07 hectares due to updating statistical data in 2023, serving as a legal basis for implementing strategic investment projects.

Along with the sea reclamation process, a series of important seaport projects are also being implemented. In 2025, 4 wharves: 3, 4, 5, 6 at Lach Huyen deep-water port area will be inaugurated. In July 2025, the Prime Minister approved the investment policy for the project to build wharves 9, 10, 11 and 12 at Lach Huyen wharf area. Previously, wharves 7 and 8 were approved and approved for investment in 2023.

To ensure synchronous infrastructure with seaports, Hai Phong has put into operation and is continuing to deploy many connecting traffic projects such as: Hanoi - Hai Phong; Hai Phong - Ha Long - Mong Cai expressway; National Highway 5; National Highway 10 have been upgraded, renovated and expanded; construction of bridges: Rung, Lai Xuan, Quang Thanh, Dinh, Song Hoa, Dong Viet and Nguyen Trai bridge; Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway; Cat Bi international airport has been upgraded and expanded...

Expanding development space to the sea not only solves the problem of scarce industrial land but also promotes seaports, becoming a major logistics center of the country, increasing the ability to attract large-scale FDI investment. Hai Phong is shifting its development center towards the sea to maximize the advantage of deep-water ports, making the marine economy a pillar of development.

Goods are loaded and unloaded at Hai Phong port. Photo: LE DUNG

Towards an international logistics center

In June 2025, the National Assembly passed Resolution 226/2025/QH15 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Hai Phong city. 6 groups of mechanisms with 41 policies, including key policies to remove "bottlenecks" in administrative procedures in attracting investment in seaports, are becoming the driving force for Hai Phong to fully exploit its potential and advantages, forming a breakthrough development model, contributing to promoting the economy of the Northern coastal region and the whole country.

According to the detailed planning for the development of land and seaport areas in Hai Phong for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Ministry of Construction in June 2025, by 2030, the Hai Phong seaport system will be able to handle cargo throughput of 175.4 - 215.5 million tons and serve 20.4 - 22.8 thousand passengers. Lach Huyen port area alone will have 14 - 16 wharves with 15 - 18 wharfs, of which wharf areas No. 1, 2, 3, 4 will receive ships with a capacity of up to 165,000 tons (12,000 TEU); wharves No. 5 to No. 10 will receive ships with a capacity of up to 200,000 tons (18,000 TEU), in accordance with related infrastructure.

Along with the planning of the seaport system, a series of important transport projects are being accelerated, such as the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway, the Ninh Binh - Hai Phong expressway (section through the city and 9 km in Thai Binh province, expected to open to traffic in 2027), Nam Do Son port, the southern coastal economic zone of Hai Phong and the international airport project in the Tien Lang area.

After the merger, Hai Phong has more strategic advantages, opening up space for large-scale industrial, urban and service development. This is an important step for the city to affirm its role as a maritime economic center, a dynamic growth pole of the Northern region, aiming to become an international logistics center.

HA NGA

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hai-phong-lan-bien-dung-co-do-521078.html