Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating its marine economic development strategy with the goal of becoming an international-class marine service, financial, logistics, and marine science-technology hub in Asia by 2045. Among key drivers, the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, the Cai Mep – Thi Vai port system, and the free trade zone have been identified as crucial growth engines, opening up new development space for the logistics sector and import-export activities.
Ho Chi Minh City Targets Becoming a Modern Marine Economic Center by 2030
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has just issued an action plan for marine economic development to concretize the viewpoints and objectives outlined in Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW of the 14th Party Central Committee and Action Plan No. 126-KH/TU of the City Party Committee on sustainable marine economic development.
The plan is designed with specific implementation roadmaps and tangible outputs, aiming to effectively exploit Ho Chi Minh City’s geographical advantages and potentials following administrative unit reorganization. Through this, the marine economy is expected to become a vital growth driver, expanding development space and enhancing the city’s international competitiveness.
According to the orientation, by 2030, Ho Chi Minh City strives to become a modern, green, smart marine center with high international competitiveness.
The city will focus on developing advantageous sectors such as maritime transport, logistics, commerce, finance, marine tourism, science and technology, and innovation.
This represents not only an expansion of traditional sea-linked economic sectors but also a strategic shift toward a high-value-added marine economy powered by technology and deeply integrated into global supply chains.
Looking further ahead to 2045, Ho Chi Minh City aspires to transform into an international-class marine service, financial, logistics, and marine science-technology hub in Asia.
Can Gio International Transshipment Port as the Core of Marine Economic Development
A pivotal highlight in Ho Chi Minh City’s marine economic strategy is the formation of new growth nuclei, prominently led by the Can Gio International Transshipment Port project linked with a Free Trade Zone.
The project is expected to create additional capacity for receiving and transshipping international cargo while catalyzing the development of an ecosystem comprising maritime services, transport, warehousing, and logistics.
Strategically situated near international maritime routes and connected to the Southeast region’s seaport system, Can Gio holds immense potential to become a vital link in the regional logistics network.
When deployed synchronously with transport infrastructure and appropriate commercial mechanisms, the Can Gio International Transshipment Port can facilitate smoother access for Vietnamese goods to global shipping lanes.
Beyond container transshipment, port development is expected to spur demand for supporting services such as ship agency, international forwarding, customs brokerage, bonded warehousing, multimodal transport, and supply chain management.
These sectors offer massive value-creation potential, unlocking new business opportunities for logistics, import-export, and maritime service providers.
Connecting Can Gio – Cai Mep – Thi Vai – Con Dao to Expand Marine Economic Growth Poles
Beyond focusing on a single seaport project, Ho Chi Minh City is steering toward establishing an interconnected marine growth pole linking Can Gio, Cai Mep – Thi Vai, and Con Dao.
This is deemed a crucial strategic orientation to form an integrated marine economic development space where each region leverages its distinct strengths while participating in a unified economic ecosystem.
Cai Mep – Thi Vai currently stands as a major deep-water port cluster vital to Vietnam’s import-export activities, with direct connections to numerous international shipping routes.
Meanwhile, Can Gio is oriented toward developing an international transshipment port, and Con Dao possesses strong potential for marine island tourism and sea-bound economic services.
Connecting these areas will enable synchronous development across seaports, transport, logistics, tourism, and related economic sectors.
Particularly when seaports are effectively integrated with road, waterway, and industrial production hubs, cargo flow efficiency between Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces will be significantly enhanced.
This serves as the foundation for the city to reinforce its role as an international trade gateway, helping businesses shorten transit times and optimize logistics costs.
Series of Marine Economic Development Targets Set for 2030
Alongside infrastructure and logistics targets, Ho Chi Minh City’s plan outlines specific socio-economic and environmental benchmarks.
In tourism, the city aims for an average annual growth rate of 14% in total marine island tourism revenue. This target seeks to better exploit coastal tourism, ecotourism, and marine island-associated products.
For the fisheries sector, the city targets an 8% average annual growth in marine aquaculture production value, accounting for 15% of the sector’s total production value. This highlights the transition from traditional fishing to modern, high-yield, and high-value marine aquaculture.
Additionally, the city prioritizes investment in coastal transport infrastructure, striving to complete the entire coastal road route in line with master planning and resource availability.
Coastal road development will not only cater to commuting needs but also enhance economic connectivity, support cargo transport, and foster coastal service growth.
Digital Transformation and Environmental Protection as Foundations for Sustainable Growth
A notable highlight in Ho Chi Minh City’s marine economic plan is the mandate to couple economic growth with resource preservation and environmental protection.
The city aims to digitize 100% of data concerning marine resources, environment, infrastructure, and maritime cultural heritage.
A synchronized data system will support more efficient management, planning, oversight, and exploitation of marine resources. Concurrently, digital transformation will facilitate technology adoption in port management, transport, logistics, and marine economic operations.
On the environmental front, Ho Chi Minh City targets 100% collection and thorough treatment of coastal plastic waste.
This is a critical requirement as marine economic development becomes increasingly tied to green standards, emission reduction, and sustainable resource utilization.
Protecting coastal ecosystems not only secures long-term growth resources but also grants the city a competitive edge in attracting investors focused on environmental standards and sustainability.
Nine Key Task Groups Structured into Two Implementation Phases
To materialize marine economic goals, Ho Chi Minh City has outlined nine key task groups focusing on institutional refinement, strategic investor mobilization, infrastructure development, workforce quality enhancement, and national defense and security assurance.
The implementation roadmap is divided into two phases:
Phase 2026: Foundation Building and Major Project Preparation
In 2026, the city will concentrate on perfecting mechanisms, policies, master plans, and securing prerequisites for launching key projects. This phase is critical to removing institutional bottlenecks, mobilizing investment capital, and clarifying agency responsibilities.
Phase 2027 – 2030: Accelerating Infrastructure and Marine Sectors
From 2027 to 2030, the city will synchronously execute tasks, channeling resources into transport infrastructure, seaports, logistics, and advantageous marine industries. Implementing flagship projects alongside service ecosystem development is expected to generate fresh growth momentum and elevate Ho Chi Minh City’s connectivity with global trade hubs.
Opportunities for Logistics and Import-Export Enterprises
Ho Chi Minh City’s marine economic strategy will not only reshape infrastructure but also unlock broad prospects for the business community.
First, developing the Can Gio International Transshipment Port and reinforcing links with Cai Mep – Thi Vai will stimulate demand for maritime transport, international forwarding, warehousing, and supply chain management services.
Logistics firms gain opportunities to expand operations into container transport, multimodal shipping, bonded warehouse exploitation, customs services, and cargo distribution.
For import-export businesses, synchronously developed seaports and transport infrastructure will help diversify shipping routes, boost international market access, and optimize fulfillment planning.
Moreover, the establishment of a free trade zone can generate additional space for trade, warehousing, distribution, and export-oriented manufacturing, subject to forthcoming policy frameworks.
However, to capture these opportunities, companies must proactively upgrade operational capacities, adopt logistics management technology, train human resources, and meet escalating service quality demands.
Early preparation will grant businesses a distinct advantage as key infrastructure projects deploy and generate new service demands.
Ho Chi Minh City Aiming to Become an International Marine Logistics Hub by 2045
The issuance of Ho Chi Minh City’s marine economic development plan demonstrates the city’s resolve to strongly leverage its geographical advantages and marine economic space following administrative reorganization.
Spanning seaport development, logistics, trade, finance, tourism, and marine science-technology, the city aims to build an economic ecosystem capable of integrating into regional and global value chains.
With the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, Cai Mep – Thi Vai port cluster, and Con Dao marine development space serving as key pillars, Ho Chi Minh City is poised for breakthrough growth.
The target by 2030 is to build Ho Chi Minh City into a modern, green, smart marine center with international competitiveness. Looking further to 2045, the city aims for the status of an international-class marine service, financial, logistics, and marine science-technology hub in Asia.
This represents a strategically significant direction for both the city’s development and Vietnam’s logistics sector as a whole. Synchronously implemented across institutions, infrastructure, and investment, the marine economy can become a vital engine elevating Ho Chi Minh City’s standing in international trade and maritime networks.
Source:
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