Building Hai Phong Port into northern Vietnam’s leading seaport

Proud to have welcomed President Ho Chi Minh three times

Generations of officials and workers at Hai Phong Port have cherished the memory of October 20, 1946, when the Dumont d’Urville brought President Ho Chi Minh and a Vietnamese Government delegation to Ngu Wharf at Hai Phong Port upon their return from a working trip to France.

Two years after Hai Phong’s liberation, on May 30, 1957, Hai Phong Port had the honor of welcoming President Ho Chi Minh for the second time. He boarded the HC 15 vessel to visit the living quarters, accommodations, and workplaces of dockworkers and sailors. He then spoke warmly with them, urging: “... everyone should strive to achieve high productivity and good quality, uphold the spirit of ownership, and work hard to build Hai Phong Port into a socialist one...” He also reminded port leaders to “pay due attention to workers’ living conditions.” At the same time, he told workers that “to improve living standards, production must be stepped up...”

On January 10, 1960, President Ho Chi Minh, together with leaders of the Party, National Assembly, Government Council, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, and a large number of Hai Phong residents, welcomed 922 Vietnamese expatriates returning from Thailand at Hai Phong Port.

During his three visits to the port, President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings became a guiding principle and a tremendous source of encouragement, motivating generations of port officials, Party members, and workers to overcome difficulties, preserve and promote the tradition of “Solidarity – Resilience – Creativity,” and strengthen Hai Phong Port’s reputation on the international maritime map.

Building a green, civilized, and modern port

Fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh’s aspiration to “build a modern gateway port for northern Vietnam,” the 40 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) policy have been a period of strong growth and development for Hai Phong Port. During the 2021–2025 period alone, the port handled 198 million tons of cargo, generated VND 14.1 trillion in revenue, and recorded VND 5.18 trillion in pre-tax profit. Workers’ livelihoods were secured, with average monthly income exceeding VND 24 million per person.

Hai Phong Port’s strategy of “reaching out to the open sea” has become a reality. During the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong’s Liberation Day (May 13, 1955 – 2025), the port put berths No. 3 and No. 4 at Lach Huyen into operation. The deep-water berths have enabled Hai Phong Port to operate direct maritime services from Hai Phong to the east and west coasts of the US, Europe, and Australia without transshipment at intermediate ports, reducing shipping times and logistics costs.

Over the past years, Hai Phong Port’s leading role in northern Vietnam and the country as a whole has continued to be strengthened. The port is now operating 21 berths with a total quay length of more than 4,200 m, stretching across the Chua Ve, Tan Vu, Dinh Vu, and Lach Huyen areas. These facilities form an integrated and complementary supply chain for handling bulk, general, and container cargo, with the capacity to accommodate vessels of up to 165,000 DWT.

With new development space, Hai Phong Port has set a target of handling 60 million tons of cargo in 2026, including 3 million TEUs of containers.

Pham Hong Minh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hai Phong Port JSC, said that to continuously enhance capacity and maintain its position as the largest seaport in northern Vietnam, the company would focus on three breakthroughs: modernizing infrastructure and equipment, advancing digital transformation, and developing a logistics ecosystem linked to the deep-water port at Lach Huyen.

Alongside investment in modern cargo-handling equipment, Hai Phong Port will strengthen cooperation with international shipping lines, expand logistics services, and improve multimodal connectivity. These efforts aim to enhance competitiveness, increase the value of import and export goods, and affirm the port’s position as the leading seaport in northern Vietnam, a green, civilized, modern, and smart port in line with President Ho Chi Minh’s cherished aspiration.

MINH KHOI