Decision 1579/QD-TTg 2021 master plan on Vietnam's seaport system development in 2021-2030

DECISION

Approving the overall master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the November 25, 2015 Maritime Code of Vietnam;

Pursuant to the Planning Law of November 24, 2017;

Pursuant to the November 20, 2018 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of 37 Laws Concerning Planning;

Pursuant to the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Resolution No. 751/2019/UBTVQH14 of August 16, 2019, on interpretation of a number of articles of the Planning Law;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2019/ND-CP of May 7, 2019, detailing a number of articles of the Planning Law, and the Government’s Decree No. 56/2019/ND-CP of June 24, 2019, detailing a number of articles of the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of 37 Laws Concerning Planning regarding transportation;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 26/NQ-CP of March 5, 2020, promulgating the Government’s overall plan and five-year plan for implementation of Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of October 22, 2018, of the 8^th Plenum of the XII^th Party Central Committee, on the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy up to 2030, with a vision toward 2045;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 77/QD-TTg of January 13, 2021, approving the tasks of the overall master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050;

At the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and according to the Appraisal Report No. 68/BC-HDTDQH of July 11, 2021, of the Council for Appraisal of the overall master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the overall master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system in the 2021-2030 period, a vision towards 2050, with the following major contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS AND OBJECTIVES

1. Viewpoints

- Seaports constitute an important part of maritime infrastructure and socio-economic infrastructure system and is determined as one of the three strategic breakthroughs, which should be prioritized for investment to ensure the harmony between socio-economic development and national defense-security maintenance as well as assurance of social security and climate change adaptation; and to contribute to firmly maintaining independence and sea and island sovereignty, intensifying international cooperation on sea-related issues, maintaining an environment of peace and stability and sustainable development.

- To develop synchronous and modern maritime infrastructures, ensuring maritime safety and security and effective connection of transportation modes; to promote the advantage as the leading mode of large-volume cargo transportation which plays an important role in international cargo transportation and contributes to reduction of logistics costs.

- To bring into play the advantage in geographical location linking with economic and urban development space; to concentrate on development of international gateway ports capable of receiving great tonnage ships moving on long-distance sea lanes; to make full use of natural conditions for harmonious and rational development between seaports and urban development spaces, and between seaports and infrastructures of inland container depots, buoy stations and transshipment mooring zones.

- To mobilize all resources, especially non-state budget resources, for synchronous and focal investment in the system of maritime infrastructures; to prioritize the state resources for investment in public maritime infrastructures, especially international gateway ports; to further promote the effectiveness of delegation and decentralization of powers in resource mobilization and implementation organization to localities.

- To proactively access and boost the application of achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in construction, management and operation of seaports towards building green and energy-efficient seaports and efficiently using coastal and water surface natural resources.

2. Objectives

a/ Objectives to 2030

 To develop the system of synchronous and modern seaports with high-quality services, meeting socio-economic development demands, ensuring national defense and security, maritime safety and environmental protection, raising the competitiveness of the economy, contributing to making our country basically a upper-middle income developing country with modern industry by 2030 with a number of following specific targets:

- Regarding capacity: To meet the demands from commodity import-export, trade between regions and zones nationwide and commodity transshipment of transit for regional countries as well as the domestic and international passenger transport demands. The seaport system will be capable of handling 1,140-1,423 million tons of cargo (including 38-47 million TEU of container cargoes) and 10.1-10.3 million passenger arrivals.

- Regarding infrastructures: To prioritize the development of the international gateway ports of Lach Huyen (Hai Phong city) and Cai Mep (Ba Ria-Vung Tau province). To study appropriate policies and mechanisms for step by step developing the international transshipment terminal at Van Phong (Khanh Hoa province) in order to tap the potential regarding national conditions and geographical location. To set orientations for developing Tran De port (Soc Trang province) in service of the Mekong River delta so as to proceed with investment when conditions permit; large-scale seaports in service of national or inter-regional socio-economic development; international passenger ports linked with areas which are motive forces for tourism development; large-scale ports in service of economic zones and industrial parks; and ports in island districts in service of socio-economic development associated with national defense-security and island and sea sovereignty.

b/ Vision toward 2050

- To develop the system of synchronous and modern seaports up to regional and world levels, meeting the criteria of green ports; to fully and effectively meet the national socio-economic development demands and serve as a main pillar playing the motive role, leading and successfully developing the maritime economy according to Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of October 22, 2018, of the 8^th Plenum of the XII^th Party Central Committee, on the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy to 2030, with a vision toward 2045, thus contributing to making Vietnam a strong marine nation and a high-income developed country.

- The seaport system will be capable of meeting demands for cargo handling with an average growth rate of 4-4.5% per year; and the passenger transportation at the average growth rate of 1.2-1.3% per year.

II. SEAPORT SYSTEM PLANNING

1. Grouping of seaports

 The seaport system of Vietnam is composed of 5 groups:

- Group No. 1 includes 5 seaports: the seaports of Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh.

- Group No. 2 includes 6 seaports: the seaports of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue.

- Group No. 3 includes 8 seaports: the seaports of Da Nang (including Hoang Sa island district area), Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa (including Truong Sa island district area), Ninh Thuan, and Binh Thuan.

- Group No. 4 includes 5 seaports: the seaports of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Long An.

- Group No. 5 includes 12 seaports: the seaports of Can Tho, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, and Kien Giang.

2. Classification of seaports

Depending on their sizes and functions, Vietnam’s seaports are classified into:

- Special seaports (2 seaports): the seaports of Hai Phong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

- Grade-I seaports (15 seaports): the seaports of Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Can Tho, Long An, and Tra Vinh. The seaports of Thanh Hoa, Da Nang and Khanh Hoa are potentially planned to be special seaports.

- Grade-II seaports (6 seaports): the seaports of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Hau Giang, and Dong Thap.

- Grade-III seaports (13 seaports): the seaports of Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Phu Yen, Dinh Duong, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Soc Trang, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau. The seaport of Soc Trang is potentially planned to be a special seaport.

3. Classification of ports

- Depending on the types of loaded and unloaded cargoes: multi-purpose ports, container ports, bulk cargo ports, liquid/gaseous cargo ports, and passenger ports.

- Depending on scope of business operations: ports with cargo-handling services and ports without cargo-handling services.

4. Planning of seaport groups, seaports and port areas

a/ Group-1seaports

By 2030, group-1 seaports will handle 305-367 million tons of cargoes (including 11-15 million TEU of containers) and receive 162,000-164,000 passenger arrivals.

Vision toward 2050: To meet the demands for cargo handling with an average growth rate of 5-5.3% per year and passenger transportation with an average growth rate of 1.5- 1.6% per year. To complete the investment in Lach Huyen and Cai Lan port areas and relocate ports along Cam river in conformity with the master plan on development of Hai Phong city; to invest in the development of ports at South Do Son-Van Uc, Cam Pha and Hai Ha areas.

b/ Group-2 seaports

By 2030, group-2 seaports will handle 172-255 million tons of cargo (including 0.6-1 million TEU of containers) and receive 202,000- 204,000 passenger arrivals.

Vision toward 2050: To meet the demands for cargo handling with an average growth rate of 3.6-4.5% per year and passenger transportation with an average growth rate of 0.4-0.5% per year. To complete investment in and develop Nghi Son-Dong Hoi, Vung Ang and Son Duong-Hon La port clusters.

c/ Group-3 seaports

By 2030, group-3 seaports will handle 138-181 million tons of cargo (including 1.8-2.5 million TEU of containers) and receive 1.9-2 million passenger arrivals.

Vision toward 2050: To meet the demands for cargo handling with an average growth rate of 4.5-5.5% per year and passenger transportation with an average growth rate of 1.7-1.8% year. To complete investment in the whole Lien Chieu (Da Nang city) port area and form the international transshipment terminal in Van Phong (Khanh Hoa province).

d/ Group-4 seaports

By 2030, group-4 seaports will handle 461-540 million tons of cargo (including 23-28 million TEU of containers) and receive 1.7-1.8 million passenger arrivals.

Vision toward 2050: To meet the demands for cargo handling with an average growth rate of 3.5-3.8% per year and for passenger transportation at the average growth rate of 0.9-1% per year. To complete the investment in Cai Mep Ha port. To study the formation of new port areas at Can Gio (on Go Gia river). To complete the relocation of ports on Sai Gon river and further study the relocation of other ports in conformity with Ho Chi Minh urban development space.

dd/ Group-5 seaports

By 2030, group-5 seaports will handle 64 and 80million tons of cargo (including 0.6-0.8 million TEU of containers) and receive 6.1-6.2 million passenger arrivals.

Vision toward 2050: To meet the demands for cargo handling with an average growth rate of 5.5-6.1% per year and for passenger transportation with an average growth rate of 1.1-1.25% per year. To form a Mekong River delta gateway port.

(The scale of infrastructure facilities of seaports and port areas to 2030 is specified in detail in the Appendix to this Decision).

5. Public maritime infrastructure system

The system of maritime channels, light houses, storm shelters, infrastructure facilities in service of maritime safety, specialized maritime state management, search-rescue, and supporting facilities will be planned and invested in conformity with the scales of seaports, fleet development trends, transport demands in each period and capability of investment resource balance and mobilization (Details are specified in the Appendix to this Decision).

III. DEMANDS FOR USE OF LAND AND WATER SURFACE

The total land demand for use under the master plan by 2030 is around 33,600ha and the total water surface demand for development of the seaport system under the master plan by 2030 is around 606,000ha.

IV. ORIENTATIONS ON CONNECTABLE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURES

- To develop railway lines connecting with special-grade and grade-I seaports on the North-South corridor; to form inland waterway ports in seaport water zones; to build system of expressways connecting with special-grade seaports, national highways, local roads connecting directly to seaports.

- To develop inland container depots at economic zones and economic corridors, prioritizing locations conveniently connected to important seaports of different groups via inland waterway, river-sea, expressway, and railway routes.

V. INVESTMENT FUND DEMAND

The demand for funds for investment in the seaport system to 2030 is approximately VND 313 trillion (only for ports with cargo-handling services), which will be mobilized mainly from non-state budget sources, enterprises and other lawful funding sources. The state budget funds shall be used concentratedly for public maritime infrastructures and key zones so as to create the spillover effects and attract investment capital.

VI. PROJECTS PRIORIZED FOR INVESTMENT

1. Public maritime infrastructures

To invest in upgrading the Cai Mep-Thi Vai channel in service of ships of a reduced tonnage of up to 200,000 tons (18,000 TEU); the project on channels for high-tonnage ships to enter the Hau river, the second stage for ships of a reduced tonnage of up to 20,000 tons; to upgrade channels to Nghi Son port, Chanh river channel, Cam Pha channel, Tho Quang channel and others; lighthouses at islands and archipelagoes under Vietnam’s sovereignty, infrastructure in service of maritime safety.

2. Seaports’ wharves

To invest in the remaining wharves of Lach Huyen wharf area; the wharf in Nam Do Son wharf area (Hai Phong city); wharves at Cai Mep-Thi Vai wharf area (Ba Ria- Vung Tau province; principal wharves of grade-I seaports; international passenger wharves linking with tourism development motive zones; large-scale seaports connecting with electricity, coal, gas, petroleum, and metallurgy centers; and wharves in service of coastal economic zones; to call for investment in wharves at the potential seaports of Van Phong and Tran De.

VII. SOLUTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE MASTER PLAN

1. Solutions on mechanisms and policies

- To improve mechanisms and policies in the maritime sector, aiming to step up the investment in seaport infrastructures, including investment in the mode of socialization, contributing to boosting the development of sea transport and maritime services.

- To prioritize the reservation of land and water surface areas for development of seaports under the Master Plan.

- To further study and propose the application of appropriate port management models in order to raise the effectiveness of management, investment and operation of seaports and seaport clusters (with priority given to important seaports). To intensify regional and inter-regional cooperation and coordination for effective operation of seaports.

- To study the application of policy on open ports in the wharf areas of Lach Huyen, Cai Mep, Thi Vai and Van Phong.

- To further study and improve the policies on charges and fees at seaports so as to increase the efficiency of seaport investment and attractiveness for shipping firms, attracting internationally transshipped container cargoes.

2. Solutions on mobilization of investment funds

- To further improve mechanism and conditions to mobilize funds from diverse sources at home and abroad for investment in the development of seaport infrastructures under the Master Plan and institutionalize solutions for delegation and decentralization of powers in mobilization of resources; to tap resources from land and water surface, and revenues from lease of wharf infrastructures invested by state budget sources.

- To encourage and create favorable conditions for organizations and enterprises of different economic sectors to invest in development and operation of seaports; to step up the socialization of investment in the development of seaport infrastructures. To enhance the role of enterprises in sharing the responsibility for investment and maintenance of public infrastructures at seaports as part of their investment projects on seaport operation.

3. Environmental, scientific and technological solutions

- To accelerate the application of science, technology and modern techniques, apply digital technology and digital transformation in construction, management and operation of the seaport system in conformity with the trend of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, meeting green port criteria.

- To prioritize investment in the development and efficient use of the national single-window mechanism’s information technology system.

4. Human resource development solutions

To train and attract high-quality human resources, especially in management and operation of seaport infrastructures; to study the application of the order-placing mechanism for human resource training and further training in the fields related to seaport management and operation.

5. International cooperation solutions

- To intensify investment promotion activities at home and abroad through adoption of incentive policies and creation of favorable conditions for investment and business activities.

- To implement treaties and regional and international agreements on the sea, to which Vietnam is a contracting party; to study the participation in relevant treaties.

- To intensify cooperation, taking advantage of assistance of partners and international organizations for human resource development, environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and control and climate change adaption.

6. Solutions for organizing and supervising the implementation of the Master Plan

- To intensify the coordination in, and inspection and supervision of, the implementation of the Master Plan, ensuring that seaports are invested and operated in conformity with their planned utilities, scales and schedules already approved, ensuring synchronism between seaports and relevant infrastructure facilities. To periodically organize seaport authority conferences for settlement of relevant matters.

- To encourage the study and application of solutions with a view to effectively operating seaport infrastructures, ensuring that when having their tonnage reduced, ships of a higher tonnage can enter and exit wharves while meeting conditions on maritime safety and security, fire and explosion prevention and fighting and environmental protection.

- To build seaports in close association with the formation and synchronous development of commodity distribution, logistical support service and logistics service centers.

- To carry out the relocation of seaports and wharves subject to relocation according to the planned roadmap.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Transport:

- To assume prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries, sectors and provincial-level People’s Committees in, managing and organizing the implementation of the Master Plan. To organize periodical evaluation and review so as to adjust the Master Plan in conformity with socio-economic development situation in each period according to regulations. To publicize the Master Plan in accordance with the Planning Law.

- To load information on planning on the national information system and database on planning according to regulations.

- To formulate plans and propose necessary solutions for implementing the Master Plan in a synchronous, feasible and effective manner; to assume prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, scrutinizing and proposing amendments and supplements to policies on fees, service charges at seaports.

- To organize the formation, approval or submission for approval, of technical and specialized master plans (detailed master plans on groups of seaports, wharves, piers, buoy stations, water areas, water zones; detailed master plans on development of land areas and water areas of seaports; and master plans on development of inland container depots) in accordance with the Planning Law.

- To coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning and Investment in allocating annual budget funds for implementation of the Master Plan.

2. Ministries and sectors shall, based on their functions, tasks and powers, coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and the provincial-level People’s Committees in, allocating resources, proposing mechanisms and policies for feasible and effective realization of objectives of the Master Plan, ensuring the consistency and synchronism with the implementation of the 10-year (2021-2030) strategy for socio-economic development and socio-economic development plan of each sector and each locality.

3. Provincial-level People’s Committees

- People’s Committees of all levels shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, organize the state management of maritime transport in accordance with relevant laws in their respective localities; and strictly manage land in service of the implementation of the Master Plan.

- To scrutinize, formulate and adjust master plans and projects in their localities, ensuring their consistency and synchronism with this Master Plan; update the contents of provincial master plans to ensure compliance with orientations for development of local transport according to the Master Plan, meeting sustainable development and environmental protection requirements.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Detailed master plans on seaport groups up to 2020, with orientations toward 2030, will be further implemented and adjusted to be conformable with contents of the Master Plan approved under this Decision until the detailed master plan on seaport groups, wharves, inland container depots, buoy stations, water areas, and water zones and the detailed master plan on development of seaports’ land and water surface zones in accordance with the Planning Law are approved.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
LE VAN THANH

* The Appendix to this Decision is not translated.