The Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province requested the selection of a capable investor with established cargo partners to build the Dong Hoi seaport.
Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, Vo Trong Hai, emphasized the view that Nghe An needs investors but will not accept weak investors. The selection process must focus on businesses that are truly capable and have partners for goods to develop the Dong Hoi seaport area.
On the morning of May 7th, the People's Committee of Nghe An province held a working session on the investment plan for the construction of the Dong Hoi wharf area in Tan Mai ward. Comrade Vo Trong Hai, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired the meeting.
Attending the meeting were leaders from relevant departments and units, including: Construction, Finance, Agriculture and Environment, Industry and Trade, the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board, the Nghe An Maritime Port Authority, the Customs Sub-department of Region XI, and the Provincial People's Committee Office.
Develop 3 ports with 5-6 berths by 2030.
The entire master plan for the Dong Hoi port area, within the expanded scope of the Southeast Economic Zone, was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 490/QD-TTg dated March 27, 2026.
Previously, according to the detailed planning of the Dong Hoi port area approved by the Ministry of Transport in Decision No. 838/QD-BGTVT dated April 28, 2011, the port area has a total area of 1,096.7 hectares, including 540.4 hectares of land and 556.3 hectares of water; its function is a specialized port; with a total of 19 berths, including 4 berths for thermal power plants, 4 berths for steel plants, and 11 berths for cement and construction materials plants; the maximum vessel size is 50,000 tons.
Currently, the Dong Hoi port area is being developed according to the following plans: the Master Plan for the Vietnamese Seaport System for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; the Detailed Plan for the group of seaports, wharves, piers, mooring buoys, water areas, and water zones for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; and the Detailed Plan for the Development of Land and Water Areas of Nghe An Seaports for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.
According to the plan for 2030, the Dong Hoi port area will function as a general cargo, bulk cargo, and liquid/gas cargo terminal. The capacity for general cargo and bulk cargo vessels will range from 50,000-70,000 tons; and for liquid/gas cargo vessels up to 150,000 tons.
The project includes 3 ports with 5-6 berths, of which 1 berth belongs to the Quynh Lap LNG Thermal Power Plant, 2 berths belong to Dong Hoi 1 port, and 2-3 berths belong to Dong Hoi 2 port. The total planned area includes 87.81 hectares of land and 15.63 hectares of water.
The early establishment of the Dong Hoi port area is an urgent requirement given the current rapid increase in export demand. Specifically, the northern Nghe An region has approximately 3 million tons of goods currently transshipped through Nghi Son port. Therefore, investing in a port at Dong Hoi will contribute to reducing logistics costs, increasing competitiveness, and providing greater autonomy in maritime transport infrastructure for the region.
The Dong Hoi seaport system currently has 7 investors proposing 8 port construction projects. Of these, 4 projects have received directives from competent authorities, and 4 projects are in the proposal stage.
Upon review, apart from the liquid/gas cargo port belonging to the Quynh Lap LNG Thermal Power Plant, the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board stated that within the Dong Hoi port area planning zone, only the Thanh Thanh Dat Port Project still has valid legal status.
However, this project is not included in the East Hoi 1 and East Hoi 2 port areas to be implemented in the 2021-2030 period according to the approved seaport plans; and it has already been delayed by 7 years and 5 months.
Focus on accelerating progress.
Concluding the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Trong Hai emphasized that the seaport system plays a particularly important role in the socio-economic development of Nghe An, including Dong Hoi seaport.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee clearly stated that if the Dong Hoi port area project is not implemented within this term, the responsibility will lie with the Provincial People's Committee. Nghe An must focus on accelerating progress to, together with Cua Lo Port, form a key seaport system, creating further impetus for economic development.
Comrade Vo Trong Hai also stated that, after the Vinh - Thanh Thuy expressway is completed, with the advantage of a short distance, the volume of goods from Laos and 10 provinces in Northern Thailand is expected to increase sharply, opening up great potential for Nghe An to develop logistics, port services and exploit its advantages as an international trade gateway.
Therefore, based on the approved plan, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board to preside over the review of the entire Dong Hoi port area; relevant departments and agencies are to conduct appraisals according to their functions and duties.
Regarding investor selection, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized a clear stance: Nghe An needs investors but will not accept weak, incompetent investors or those holding projects for the purpose of transferring them. The selection must focus on businesses with genuine financial capacity, experience, implementation capabilities, established partners for goods, and guaranteed investment efficiency.
Therefore, the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board is tasked with reviewing all seven investors who have proposed projects in this area, specifically assessing their capacity and feasibility to advise the Provincial People's Committee on selecting a suitable investor; at the same time, it may continue to attract other investors.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that all relevant levels and sectors take decisive action, adhering closely to the approved plan; any difficulties or obstacles beyond their authority must be proactively addressed by the central government to ensure timely resolution, so that the Dong Hoi port area project can be implemented within this term.
