According to vietnam.vn, the seventh Regional Logistics Forum for the Red River Delta, held on 21 September 2026 in Hai Phong, drew over 600 delegates to address infrastructure bottlenecks and expand logistics development space across the region.
Forum Focuses on Multimodal Integration
Organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Hai Phong People’s Committee at the city’s Convention and Performing Arts Center, the forum centered on the theme “Creating New Development Space for Red River Delta Logistics.” It featured two main discussion sessions: “Institutional Innovation — Unblocking Logistics Flows” and “Investment Attraction for Lach Huyen International Gateway Port — Expanding Growth Space.” These sessions emphasized policy refinement, port–industrial zone connectivity, multimodal transport development, and targeted investment in Lach Huyen.
The forum responded to Decree No. 612/QĐ-TTg dated 4 April 2026, which adjusts the Red River Delta planning framework for 2021–2030 with a vision to 2050. The directive mandates integrated infrastructure development and enhanced intra-regional, inter-regional, and international connectivity — identifying economic corridors through Hai Phong as critical linkages.
According to Trần Tiến Dũng, Chairman of the Hai Phong Logistics Association and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Service Enterprises Association, maritime and inland waterway transport regulations — many drafted years ago — require systematic review and updating to match current operational realities. He stressed that boosting national container fleet capacity must be paired with expanding inland waterway transport to connect seaports with river ports and dry ports, thereby reducing road congestion, cutting logistics costs, and lowering emissions.
Hai Phong’s Logistics Expansion Momentum
Hai Phong stands out as the only northern locality with all five transport modes and operates deep-water ports capable of accommodating large container vessels on direct shipping routes to Europe and the Americas. In the first eight months of 2026, cargo throughput at Hai Phong Port reached 134.34 million tons, up 11.74% year-on-year and exceeding the projected target. Export turnover hit $42.2 billion, an increase of 14.6%, while revenue from import-export activities totaled 65,023 billion VND, rising 16.8%.
Yet rapid volume growth intensifies pressure on post-port infrastructure. Connectivity between the seaport and several industrial zones, warehouses, and production hubs remains inefficient, with road transport still handling the majority of freight. Service capacity across logistics enterprises is uneven; workforce skills, technology adoption, and supply chain management practices lag behind evolving demands.
Đoàn Anh Tùng, Deputy Director of KTH Trading and Logistics Services Co., Ltd., noted that local enterprises seek not only policy recommendations but also concrete post-forum connections — particularly with shipping lines, import-export firms, investors, and supply chain partners. He emphasized the need for Hai Phong’s logistics firms to move beyond fragmented service provision and progressively assume higher-value roles within the regional supply chain.
Strategic Alignment and Forward Pathways
The forum’s proposals align with Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU of the Hai Phong Party Committee on accelerating economic growth — which links logistics development directly to trade expansion, export growth, and market integration, while tackling infrastructure constraints, transport costs, and service quality gaps.
During a working session with the city on 16 March 2026, General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm directed Hai Phong to become the Red River Delta’s and Vietnam’s “marine growth pole,” forming a dynamic triangle with Hanoi and Quang Ninh — and ultimately positioning itself as a hub for modern industry, international logistics, and integrated marine economy.
Experts underscored that developing Lach Huyen Port must be coordinated with adjacent industrial parks, free trade zones, and regional production centers. Complementary investments must include digital interoperability — data sharing among ports, shipping lines, customs, and enterprises — technology-enabled cargo tracking and operations, and the phased rollout of green and smart port systems.
Source: vietnam.vn
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
