Decision 442/QD-TTg 2024 adjustments to the Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system 2021-2030

DECISION

Approving adjustments to the Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system for 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 November 24, 2017 Planning Law;

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

Pursuant to the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 61/2022/QH15 of June 16, 2022, on further improvement of effect and effectiveness of the implementation of planning policies and laws and a number of solutions to remove difficulties and problems and accelerate the formulation and raise the quality of master plans for the 2021-2030 period;

Pursuant to the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 81/2023/QH15 of January 9, 2023, on the National Overall Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050;

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 on transportation of the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of Thirty-Seven Laws Concerning Planning;

At the proposal of the Ministry of Transport in Official Letter No. 4783/TTr-BGTVT of May 6, 2024, approving the modified Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the amendments and supplementations to a number of contents of the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1579/QD-TTg of September 22, 2021, approving the Master Plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050 as follows:

1. To amend the first and second bullet points of Section I.2a, Article 1 as follows:

“- Regarding capacity: To meet the demand for commodity import-export and trade between regions and areas nationwide and commodity transshipment and transit for regional countries as well as domestic and international passenger transport needs. The seaport system will be capable of handling 1,249-1,494 million tons of cargoes (including 46.3-54.3 million TEU of container cargoes, excluding international transshipment cargoes) and 17.4-18.8 million passenger arrivals.

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

2. To amend the second bullet point, Section I.2b, Article 1 as follows:

“- The seaport system will be capable of meeting demands for cargo handling with an average growth rate of 4.2-4.8% per year; and the passenger transportation at the average growth rate of 1.2-1.3% per year.”.

3. To amend and supplement the second bullet point, Section II.2, Article 1 as follows:

“- 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, Khanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City may be planned to become special seaports.”.

4. To amend and supplement Section II.4, Article 1 as follows:

“a/ Group-1 seaports

By 2030, group-1 seaports will handle 322-384 million tons of cargoes (including 13-16 million TEU of containers) and receive 281,000-302,000 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 the ports in southern Do Son-Van Uc, Cam Pha and Hai Ha areas.

b/ Group-2 seaports

By 2030, group-2 seaports will handle 182-251 million tons of cargoes (including 0.4-0.6 million TEU of containers) and receive 374,000-401,000 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 160-187 million tons of cargoes (including 2.5-3.1 million TEU of containers, excluding international transshipment cargoes) and receive 3.4-3.9 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% per year; to complete investment in the whole Lien Chieu (Da Nang) port area and form the international cargo transshipment terminal in Van Phong (Khanh Hoa).

d/ Group-4 seaports

By 2030, group-4 seaports will handle 500-564 million tons of cargoes (including 29-33 million TEU of containers, excluding international transshipment cargoes) and receive 2.8-3.1 million passengers.

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 lower Cai Mep port; to continue making investment in the Can Gio (Ho Chi Minh City) international transshipment port area to form the large-scale international transshipment terminal cluster of Asian and international statures (including Cai Mep and Can Gio ports), to complete the relocation of ports on the 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 86-108 million tons of cargoes (including 1.3-1.8 million TEU of containers) and receive 10.5-11.2 million passengers.

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 through 2030 is specified in the Appendix to this Decision).”.

5. To amend and supplement Section III, Article 1 as follows:

“The total land use demand under the Master Plan by 2030 is around 33,600 hectares and the total water surface use demand for development of the seaport system under the Master Plan by 2030 is around 606,000 hectares (excluding land and water surface areas of the Can Gio international transshipment terminal).”.

6. To amend and supplement Section V, Article 1 as follows:

“The demand for funds for investment in ports providing cargo-handling services in the seaport system by 2030 is approximately VND 313 trillion (only for ports with cargo-handling services, excluding funds for investment in the Can Gio international transshipment port areas) which will be mobilized mainly from non-state budget sources, enterprises and other lawful funding sources. State budget funds shall be used mainly for public maritime infrastructure facilities and strategic zones so as to create spillover effects and attract investment capital.”.

7. To amend and supplement Section VI.2, Article 1 as follows:

“To invest in the remaining wharves of Lach Huyen wharf area; the departure wharf in southern Do Son wharf area (Hai Phong); wharves in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai wharf area (Ba Ria- Vung Tau); the Can Gio (Ho Chi Minh City) international transshipment port area; main wharves of grade-I seaports; international passenger wharves for tourism development motive zones; large-scale seaports for electricity, coal, gas, petroleum and metallurgy centers; and wharves serving coastal economic zones; to call for investment in wharves at potential seaports in Van Phong and Tran De.”.

8. To amend and supplement a number of contents on “The scale of infrastructure facilities of seaports and port areas and public maritime infrastructure facilities” specified in the Appendix to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1579/QD-TTg of September 22, 2021: details are specified in the Appendix to this Decision.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. The Minister of Transport, other ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and heads of related sectors and units shall implement this Decision.

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
TRAN HONG HA

Appendix

AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTATIONS TO A NUMBER OF CONTENTS ON “THE SCALE OF INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES OF SEAPORTS AND PORT AREAS AND PUBLIC MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES”

(To the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 442/QD-TTg of May 22, 2024)

1. To amend and supplement Section I.3b as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas of ​​Tra Ly estuary.

- Functions: Directly serving industrial, ship building and repair and riverside service facilities in the Thai Binh economic zone; having general cargo, bulk cargo, container and liquid/gas cargo terminals to serve Thai Binh Power-LNG Center under the Master Plan on Energy and Master Plan on Power Development.

- Ship size: General cargo, bulk cargo and container cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 2,000 tons or up to 5,000 tons when qualified; liquid/gas cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 150,000 tons.”.

2. To amend and supplement Section II.2c as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas from Dong Hoi cape (bordering Thanh Hoa province) to the north of Dau Rong cape (Chay mountain).

- Functions: Serving the inter-regional socio-economic development; having general cargo, bulk cargo, liquid/gas cargo terminals; developing with an appropriate roadmap, combined with Nghi Son port area to form the Nghi Son-Dong Hoi port cluster. In the immediate future, to concentrate investment in building ports that directly serve industrial facilities in Dong Hoi and other industrial parks in the northern and northwestern Nghe An and neighboring areas.

- Ship size: General cargo and bulk cargo ships of a tonnage of between 50,000 and 70,000 tons; liquid/gas cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 150,000 tons.”.

3. To supplement Section II.4.d as follows:

“dd/ Ports and anchorage areas serving the mineral exploitation in Le Thuy district are developed in conformity with local conditions and investor capacity.”.

4. To amend and supplement Section II.6a as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas of ​​Chan May bay (in the Chan May-Lang Co economic zone).

- Functions: Directly serving the Chan May-Lang Co economic zone and neighboring areas, combined with transfer of goods to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the Northeast area of the Kingdom of Thailand; having general cargo, container, bulk cargo, liquid/gas cargo terminals combined with receiving international passenger ships.

- Ship size: General cargo and bulk cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 70,000 tons, container ships of a tonnage of up to 4,000 TEU or larger when qualified; international passenger ships of a tonnage of up to 225,000 GT; liquid/gas cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 150,000 tons or larger when qualified and in conformity with national master plans on power and energy.”.

5. To amend Section II.6c as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and coastal waters in Phong Dien district.

- Functions: Serving cement plants and industrial parks in Phong Dien district and neighboring areas; having general cargo, bulk cargo and liquid/gas cargo terminals.

- Ship size: General cargo and bulk cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 50,000 tons; liquid/gas cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 150,000 tons or larger when qualified.”.

6. To amend and supplement Section III.6a as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas in the north of Van Phong bay.

- Functions: Serving the inter-regional socio-economic development; having potential for development into an international transit port; having container, general cargo, bulk cargo terminals and international passenger terminals.

- Ship size: Container ships of a tonnage of up to 24,000 TEU (250,000 tons), general cargo and bulk cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 100,000 tons or larger when - qualified; international passenger ships of up to 225,000 GT.”.

7. To amend and supplement Section III.8a as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas of ​​Vinh Tan commune, Tuy Phong district.

- Functions: Directly serving Vinh Tan power center, the socio-economic development of Binh Thuan province and accommodating part of cargoes for the Central Highlands; having general cargo, container, bulk cargo and liquid cargo terminals.

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of up to 100,000 tons.”.

8. To amend and supplement Section III.8c as follows:

“- Ke Ga port

Planning scope: Ke Ga offshore water area.

Function: Serving Ke Ga LNG power plant in conformity with the master plan on power development.

Ship size: Ships of a tonnage to be increased to meet the demand and in conformity with the capacity of investors.

- Tuy Phong port

Planning scope: Land and water areas of ​​Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province.

Function: Serving Hoa Phu gasoline and LPG warehouse.

Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of up to 20,000 tons or larger when qualified.

- Offshore ports (Hong Ngoc, Su Tu Den, Su Tu Vang, Thang Long - Dong Do mines) are oil and gas ports developed in conformity with the needs of mining operations.

- Phan Thiet and Phu Quy ports will serve the local socio-economic development and the route from shore to island, receiving passenger ships and cargo ships of a tonnage of up to 5,000 tons.”.

9. To amend and supplement Section IV.1a as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land areas along and water areas on the Dong Nai river, from Ong Nhieu canal junction to the upstream of Den Do cape junction.

- Functions: Serving the southern, inter-regional and national socio-economic development and transit of cargoes for the Kingdom of Cambodia; having container, general cargo, bulk cargo and liquid cargo terminals; operating on the existing scale without expansion or upgrading.

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of between 30,000 and 45,000 tons which may be reduced to suit operation conditions of marine navigation channels and navigational clearance of river crossing projects.”.

10. To add Section IV.1dd1 as follows:

“dd1/ The Can Gio international transshipment port area

- Planning scope: Land and water areas at Cai Mep estuary (left side of the Vung Tau - Thi Vai channel).

- Functions: Serving international container transshipment and development in conformity with the capacity of handling cargoes internationally transshipped by containers, combined with the Cai Mep port area to form a cluster of large-scale international transshipment ports at Cai Mep estuary to serve the cargo transshipment for seaports nationwide and in the regional countries.

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of up to 24,000 TEU (250,000 tons) or larger when qualified.”.

11. To amend and supplement Section IV.2g as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas of Ben Dam area.

- Functions: Serving as a hub for communication with the mainland and facilitating the socio-economic development of the island district, and having general cargo, liquid cargo, passenger and cruise terminals serving national defense and security.

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of 2,000÷5,000 tons or larger when qualified; developing an international passenger port in conformity with the master plan of building the island district.”.

12. To amend and supplement Section IV.3c as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas to the right of Dong Nai waterway (downstream of Dong Nai bridge).

- Functions: Serving as a cargo collection hub for seaports in the region and serving the local socio-economic development, and having general cargo, container, bulk cargo and liquid/gas cargo terminals.

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of up to 5,000 tons.”.

13. To amend and supplement Section IV.5b as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land areas along and water areas on the Vam Co river, from Soai Rap river junction to My Loi bridge downstream.

- Functions: Directly serving the needs of industrial parks, and having general cargo, container, bulk cargo and liquid/gas cargo terminals

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of up to 20,000 tons as suitable to operation conditions of Vam Co river waterway.”.

14. To amend and supplement Section V.1c as follows:

“- Planning scope: Land and water areas on the left side of Dinh An - Can Tho channel from the downstream of Can Tho bridge to Cai Cui canal.

- Functions: Serving the socio-economic development of the Mekong River delta combined with the transfer of cargoes to the Kingdom of Cambodia along Hau river; and having general cargo, container, liquid/gas cargo and passenger terminals.

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of up to 20,000 tons.”.

15. To amend and supplement Section V.12e as follows:

“- Functions: Serving the socio-economic development of Phu Quoc city; and having general cargo, liquid/gas cargo, passenger terminals, sea ferries and marinas.

- Ship size: Ships of a tonnage of up to 3,000 tons.”.