The total number of sea ports in Vietnam has increased more than four times the planned number from 2000. While this would seem like the prime conditions to make the most of sea-based advantages, the sad reality is that of these ports, very few are eligible to receive large ships. A lack of synchronism has meant the sector still needs further growth.
The country currently has 45 sea ports, of which 32 are inland container depots (ICD) and 13 are petroleum ports.
According to Alphaliner, port group no. 5 includes 11 container ports in Ho Chi Minh City and eight others in Cai Mep-Thi Vai in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province – some of them haven’t had their capacity exploited fully. Meanwhile, 14 ports in Hai Phong and two others in Cai Lan in the northern region share the same situation.
Experts said several costs such as warehousing, loading, and unloading have pushed up transportation and logistics costs.
Poor planning and a lack of connection between various modes of transport are the most prevalent shortcomings for Vietnam’s sea ports.
To cope with the situation, the Ministry of Transport has proposed increasing sea port service prices by 10 to 30 percent. The ministry has also affirmed that ports should reinvest in infrastructure and service quality.
To cope with these shortcomings, the Prime Minister has requested the Ministry of Transport to develop an overall plan on sea port system development in 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050. –VNA
