Hai Phong affirms its role, strengthens regional connectivity

Favorable connectivity

Since the first two berths of Hai Phong’s international gateway port were completed in 2018, the role of the only deep-water port in northern Vietnam has generated significant impact. Export and import goods from the entire Northern region can now be shipped directly to the Americas and Europe without passing through transshipment ports as before.

To enhance the port’s appeal, Hai Phong has consistently mobilized resources to modernize its transport system and post-port services such as expressways, Cat Bi international airport, inland waterways and railways, as well as the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone and a series of large, modern industrial parks.

Travel time from other provinces and cities to Hai Phong has been significantly shortened: only one hour from Ha Noi, 25 minutes from Quang Ninh province, 45 minutes from the former Hung Yen province, and 1.5 hours from the former Thai Binh province.

The capacity of Cat Bi international airport continues to increase rapidly as it attracts a considerable number of passengers from regional localities, supported by a dense network of domestic and international flights.

This convenient connectivity has drawn import and export goods from Northern provinces and cities through Hai Phong port to more than 190 million tons in 2024, a figure expected to continue rising in the years ahead.

As a result, thousands of major domestic and foreign enterprises have come to invest in Hai Phong, registering nearly 50 billion USD in FDI and hundreds of trillions of VND in domestic capital to develop industry, agriculture, tourism, services, healthcare, education and science and technology.

Tourism routes have also grown more vibrant. Many entertainment complexes in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Ha Noi appear to have no geographical boundaries as tourist numbers soar year after year.

Especially, immediately after the Politburo issued Resolution 45 on the development of Hai Phong to 2030 with a vision to 2045, with a particular emphasis on regional linkage, the city began implementing several transport projects connecting with other localities.

Close cooperation

Over the past time, Hai Phong and other localities in the region, the North and nationwide have proactively strengthened cooperation and linkages for development.

Key areas include marine economic development; supply of raw materials for industrial plants; training and supply of human resources for economic zones and industrial parks; cooperation in tourism development; budget revenue and investment attraction; trade promotion and market connectivity; and development of industrial parks in bordering areas.

These connections and cooperation have helped the Northern key economic region, including Hai Phong, achieve the highest GRDP growth rate among all key economic regions nationwide. The region contributes more than 31.7% of the country’s GDP and is the first where all provinces and cities remit revenue to the Central budget. It is also a region with the strongest growth in services, topping national rankings in many sectors.

Localities are also urgently implementing new cooperation programs such as the high-speed railway line from Lao Cai to Ha Noi and Hai Phong; the Quang Ninh – Hai Phong – Ninh Binh railway; the coastal road from Quang Ninh through Hai Phong to Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa; tourism route linkages; raw materials and agricultural supply for processing factories; high-tech industrial and agricultural development; human resource training; and investment and trade promotion.

With its inherent and growing advantages, Hai Phong’s role as a driving force for regional development is increasingly clear and strongly reinforced, contributing to the growth of the entire region, the North and the whole country.

LE HIEP