{"id":5159,"date":"2025-09-09T08:14:01","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T01:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/uncategorized\/buoc-dot-pha-de-tp-hcm-tro-thanh-cua-ngo-logistics-dong-nam-a\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T14:53:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T07:53:00","slug":"breakthrough-steps-for-ho-chi-minh-city-to-become-the-logistics-gateway-of-southeast-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/articles\/breakthrough-steps-for-ho-chi-minh-city-to-become-the-logistics-gateway-of-southeast-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"Breakthrough Steps for Ho Chi Minh City to Become the Logistics Gateway of Southeast Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Mr. Dinh Hong Ky, published on Tuoi Tre Online, September 8, 2025.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With its strategic geo-economic position and the synergy of resources from three localities, an expanded Ho Chi Minh City has the potential to rise as one of Asia\u2019s leading logistics hubs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Currently, the port cluster comprising Ho Chi Minh City \u2013 Cai Mep \u2013 Thi Vai already serves as Vietnam\u2019s largest import\u2013export gateway, handling over 15 million TEUs annually. After the planned administrative consolidation, the new Ho Chi Minh City region will possess a \u201cmaritime triangle\u201d that includes: the Cai Mep \u2013 Thi Vai deep-water port (Ba Ria\u2013Vung Tau), Cat Lai port (HCMC), and in the future, the Can Gio superport (HCMC).<\/p>\n

Opportunity to Rival Singapore in Logistics<\/h3>\n

When the Can Gio superport is completed, the region\u2019s total container throughput capacity is projected to reach 32.7 million TEUs per year\u2014comparable to the leading Asian port clusters. This figure nearly matches the 37.3 million TEUs handled by the Port of Singapore, the world\u2019s second-busiest port, in 2022.<\/p>\n

This represents a distinctive advantage for the expanded Ho Chi Minh City to position itself as the logistics gateway of Southeast Asia, competing with established centers such as Singapore and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

To realize this ambition, a prerequisite is to establish truly efficient interregional logistics connectivity. The deep-water ports in Cai Mep\u2013Thi Vai are already capable of accommodating mother vessels bound directly for Europe and the United States (the largest in Vietnam), with a combined capacity of 10.8 million TEUs per year.<\/p>\n

However, the current shortcoming lies in the inadequate connection between these ports and inland areas. The road link from Cai Mep to Ho Chi Minh City still depends on National Highway 51, which is frequently congested, and the ring road system linking the ports remains incomplete.<\/p>\n

Therefore, priority should be given to completing the Bien Hoa \u2013 Vung Tau Expressway, the Phuoc An and Nhon Trach bridges, and Ring Road 3 to directly connect the Cai Mep port cluster with the Southern Inter-Regional Expressway Network, establishing an uninterrupted logistics corridor. In parallel, accelerating the construction of Ring Road 4 will allow container trucks to bypass residential areas and directly connect industrial zones in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An to the seaports.<\/p>\n

In addition to road infrastructure, inland waterways must be revitalized. For instance, the Dong Nai \u2013 Sai Gon \u2013 Cai Mep river route could become a \u201cwaterway expressway\u201d for transporting containers by barge from inland container depots (ICDs) in Thu Duc and Binh Duong to the seaports, thereby easing pressure on roads.<\/p>\n

\n

Development of Inland Logistics Hubs<\/h3>\n

Developing inland container depots (ICDs) in the industrial zones of Binh Duong and Dong Nai is essential. Binh Duong currently has the Song Than ICD, while Dong Nai has the Long Binh ICD, though both are still limited in scale. The new Ho Chi Minh City region should plan a comprehensive network of domestic logistics hubs, including 2\u20133 large ICDs along Ring Road 3 (located in Binh Duong and Thu Duc City) and near the industrial clusters in the western area (Duc Hoa \u2013 Long An).<\/p>\n

These ICDs would consolidate cargo from factories, allow customs clearance onsite, and transport containers to seaports on scheduled routes.<\/p>\n

This model mirrors the logistics system of Los Angeles, where the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle over 20 million TEUs annually\u2014accounting for 40% of the U.S. import container volume\u2014thanks to a network of railways and expressways connecting directly to inland logistics hubs in the Inland Empire region, along with vast warehouse systems supporting goods distribution.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Similarly, an expanded Ho Chi Minh City could develop Vietnam\u2019s own \u201cInland Empire\u201d across Binh Duong and Dong Nai, hosting hundreds of warehouses and distribution centers linked to expressway networks that facilitate the flow of goods across North\u2013South Vietnam and into Cambodia and Laos.<\/p>\n

Smart and Green Logistics<\/h3>\n

Another key pillar in becoming a top-tier Asian logistics gateway is the robust application of technology and intelligent supply chain management. Ho Chi Minh City should aim to build \u201csmart ports\u201d at Cat Lai and Cai Mep following global best practices.<\/p>\n

For example, the Port of Los Angeles has adopted artificial intelligence, automation, and blockchain in container management\u2014enhancing efficiency and reducing container dwell time from three days to just 24 hours.<\/p>\n

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach employ automated cranes, autonomous vehicles, and real-time container tracking systems to optimize cargo flow. Similarly, Singapore\u2019s new Tuas Port is the world\u2019s largest automated port, utilizing robotic cranes and AI-driven systems to achieve record-breaking throughput.<\/p>\n

The new Ho Chi Minh City can invest in comparable systems\u2014such as automated quay cranes, driverless container transport vehicles, and AI-powered ship arrival forecasting and yard planning systems.<\/p>\n

A regional smart logistics operations center should also be established to integrate data from ports, warehouses, enterprises, and customs authorities. This will enable businesses to track shipments in real time, conduct electronic customs procedures, and coordinate transport schedules more efficiently.<\/p>\n

In addition, the development of green logistics<\/strong> is an inevitable trend and a competitive edge that Ho Chi Minh City should leverage. With Ba Ria\u2013Vung Tau emerging as a new energy hub (offshore wind power and LNG), the region could pioneer the use of clean fuels for maritime shipping (such as LNG and hydrogen).<\/p>\n

Ho Chi Minh City could deploy electric or compressed-gas trucks for short-haul transport between ICDs and ports. Any new railway projects should utilize electric locomotives. Reducing emissions in logistics not only helps protect the urban environment but also fulfills ESG requirements from multinational corporations\u2014an increasingly important factor in global supply chains.<\/p>\n

\n

Regional Linkages to Expand the Logistics Hinterland<\/h3>\n

The Ho Chi Minh City \u2013 Binh Duong \u2013 Ba Ria\u2013Vung Tau triangle forms a complete economic cluster. Industrial production is concentrated in Binh Duong (61 industrial zones, 24,800 hectares), energy exports and maritime trade are handled through Ba Ria\u2013Vung Tau, while Ho Chi Minh City serves as the commercial and financial hub. This structure forms a closed-loop supply chain within the region, minimizing dependence on external gateways.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the new Ho Chi Minh City must also proactively connect with neighboring provinces to expand its logistics hinterland. For instance, cooperation with Dong Nai and Long An could facilitate the development of river port networks along the Dong Nai and Vam Co rivers, enhancing cargo transport from the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta to the HCMC port cluster.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Ho Chi Minh City could act as a land-based ASEAN logistics coordination center<\/strong>, capitalizing on the trans-Asian economic corridor (HCMC \u2013 Phnom Penh \u2013 Bangkok) to transship goods between Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam\u2019s seaports.<\/p>\n

If the proposed HCMC\u2013Can Tho and HCMC\u2013Phnom Penh railway projects are implemented in the future, the city could evolve into a regional rail logistics hub, linking trade flows between China, ASEAN, and the East Sea.<\/p>\n

To become an Asian gateway, Ho Chi Minh City will inevitably face competition from major logistics centers such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. Singapore remains the world\u2019s No.2 transshipment port due to its geographic location and world-class service ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Ho Chi Minh City\u2019s strength lies in its vast industrial hinterland and large domestic market\u2014advantages Singapore lacks. Therefore, instead of competing head-to-head as a global transshipment center, Ho Chi Minh City should focus on serving as the primary logistics gateway for Vietnam and the Indochinese Peninsula.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the city can attract global shipping lines to invest in and operate terminals at Cai Mep and Can Gio, drawing new cargo flows.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s experience offers a valuable lesson: Shanghai became the world\u2019s largest port not by defeating Hong Kong, but by effectively serving China\u2019s massive domestic market and ensuring seamless inland connectivity.<\/p>\n

Link to the article on Tuoi Tre Online: https:\/\/tuoitre.vn\/buoc-dot-pha-de-tp-hcm-tro-thanh-cua-ngo-logistics-dong-nam-a-20250908165059112.htm<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mr. Dinh Hong Ky, published on Tuoi Tre Online, September 8, 2025. With its strategic geo-economic position and the synergy of resources from three localities, an expanded Ho Chi Minh City has the potential to rise as one of Asia\u2019s leading logistics hubs. Currently, the port cluster comprising Ho Chi Minh City \u2013 Cai…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5161,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5159"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5189,"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5159\/revisions\/5189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dinhhongky.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}