Unlocking the potential for developing marine economic axis

Vinh Long has many potentials and comparative advantages for rapid and sustainable economic development. In particular, the transport infrastructure is gradually being developed and completed, the projects that have been and are being implemented will contribute to increasing regional and inter-regional connectivity, especially becoming an important axis for the formation and development of the marine economy in the future.

Vinh Long has many potentials and comparative advantages for rapid and sustainable economic development. In particular, the transport infrastructure is gradually being developed and completed, the projects that have been and are being implemented will contribute to increasing regional and inter-regional connectivity, especially becoming an important axis for the formation and development of the marine economy in the future.

The province has many potentials and comparative advantages for rapid and sustainable economic development. Photo: NGO ANH KHOA

Many key traffic projects and works

Located in the center of the Mekong Delta, with a coastline of about 130km, the province has favorable conditions for developing the exploitation, aquaculture, fishing and has great potential for developing marine tourism ; Dinh An Economic Zone is 1/8 of the country's coastal economic zones, strongly developing the renewable energy production industry, offshore wind power, green hydrogen production...

In particular, Resolution No. 139/2024/QH15 on National Marine Spatial Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, has oriented the development of the province into a renewable energy export center of the country.

Currently, the province has two major projects on National Highway 60, namely Rach Mieu 2 Bridge (inaugurated) and Dai Ngai Bridge, with a total investment of about 14,772 billion VND. The project to build a coastal corridor in Tra Vinh province (old) and the project to build a coastal road connecting Ben Tre province (old) with Tien Giang and Tra Vinh provinces (old), including the Ba Lai 8 Bridge with a total investment of 2,225 billion VND, is being implemented.

However, according to the Department of Construction, the province's transport infrastructure still faces many difficulties. There are currently 9 national highways with a length of about 683km (QL1, QL53, QL53B, QL54, QL57, QL57B, QL57C, QL60 and QL80) and 34 provincial roads with a length of about 976km. Due to difficulties in funding, most national highways and provincial roads have not been invested to reach the technical level according to the plan.

In addition, there are 6 ferry terminals on the national highways, making it difficult to attract investment. In particular, National Highway 60 from Ham Luong Bridge (old Ben Tre) to Dai Ngai Bridge (old Tra Vinh), after Rach Mieu 2 Bridge and Dai Ngai Bridge are completed, it is predicted that the traffic volume on this route will be very large, leading to traffic congestion.

“The province has proposed to the central government and ministries to consider and balance investment support capital of about 19,680 billion VND for essential traffic works in the 2026-2030 period from the central budget. Specifically, projects on National Highway 57 with a total investment of about 2,200 billion VND, projects on National Highway 57B with a total investment of about 8,680 billion VND, projects on National Highway 60 with a total investment of about 2,800 billion VND, upgrading sections 2, 3, 4 of the investment project to upgrade, expand and construct 4 sections of National Highway 60 connecting Rach Mieu Bridge to Co Chien Bridge under the form of BOT contract with a total investment of about 1,600 billion VND, projects on National Highway 57C with a total investment of about 3,070 billion VND” - Mr. Duong Van Ni - Deputy Director of the Department of Construction informed.

Developing coastal economic axis

According to the Road Network Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister, the coastal road connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the provinces of the Mekong Delta has a total length of about 801km.

In order to gradually invest in the construction of coastal roads according to the planning, based on the recommendations of the two provinces of Tra Vinh (old) and Ben Tre (old), the Prime Minister approved the proposal for the project to build a coastal corridor road in Tra Vinh (old) province using ADB loans with a total investment of VND 9,187 billion and the project to build a coastal road connecting Ben Tre (old) province with Tien Giang (old) and Tra Vinh (old) provinces using ODA loans from the Korean Government with a total investment of VND 5,183 billion.

On these two routes, there are three large bridges: Co Chien 2 bridge, whose project has been approved with a total investment of 3,500 billion VND; Ba Lai 8 bridge, with a total investment of 2,225 billion VND, and Cua Dai bridge, with a total investment of about 4,564.7 billion VND.

“When these two coastal routes are invested in and built, they will play an important connecting role with major seaports such as Dinh An and Cung Hau, as well as river ports; connecting economic centers, industrial parks, seaports, forming a complete logistics chain, reducing transportation costs and increasing import and export capacity. At the same time, expanding space towards the sea, connecting, developing the fisheries economy, tourism, energy, industry, improving the efficiency of marine resources, attracting investment to develop coastal economic zones, developing the socio-economic development of the province... In particular, connecting with coastal roads of provinces in the region and Ho Chi Minh City as well as with the coastal road system of the whole country, about 3,034km long” - Mr. Duong Van Ni assessed.

Meanwhile, integrating this coastal route with the province's urban system, industrial parks, seaports and developing coastal logistics services to increase export competitiveness is one of the important factors for Vinh Long to develop sustainably in the coming time.

According to Mr. Duong Van Ni, Tra Vinh province (old) identified the development axis along the coastal road as one of the three dynamic economic development axes of the province, focusing on Dinh An Economic Zone. In which, it focuses on developing renewable energy, seaports, logistics, processing and manufacturing industry, tourism and connecting the network of coastal urban areas (Ngu Lac urban area and Duyen Hai urban area).

Ben Tre Province (old) identifies the coastal road as one of the five economic corridors, connecting coastal cities and connecting coastal areas of the provinces and Ho Chi Minh City. Focus on developing processing and manufacturing industries, renewable energy, clean energy, logistics services, seaports, marine eco-tourism, developing high-end entertainment areas, golf courses, developing green and smart cities.

Coastal routes play a role in connecting economic centers, industrial zones, and seaports, forming a logistics chain in the future. Photo: KHÁNH DUY

According to the master plan for the development of Vietnam's seaport system in the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the province is planned to have the following seaports: Ben Tre (old), Vinh Long (old) and Tra Vinh (old). Of which, Ben Tre seaport (old) includes Giao Long, Ham Luong, Thanh Phu, Binh Dai wharf areas and other satellite wharfs; buoy wharfs, anchorage and transshipment areas, storm shelters, capable of receiving ships from 5,000-50,000 tons.

Vinh Long seaport (old) includes Vinh Thai and Binh Minh wharf areas on Hau River, potential wharf in Binh Tan district, buoy wharfs, anchorage, transshipment and storm shelter areas, capable of receiving ships from 5,000 to 20,000 tons. Tra Vinh seaport (old) includes Duyen Hai-Dinh An wharf areas, Tra Cu-Kim Son port, buoy wharfs, anchorage, transshipment and storm shelter areas, capable of receiving ships from 20,000 to 50,000 tons.

“Currently, the province is implementing the Project to Research and Evaluate the Potential for Deep-Water Development in Tra Vinh Province (old) with the goal of researching, surveying, collecting and synthesizing data, evaluating the potential strengths, arguments, and scientific basis to propose orientations, goals, and solutions for implementing deep-water areas in the province and as a basis for reporting to the Prime Minister to supplement the Planning for the Development of Vietnam's Seaport System. At the same time, it will be a premise in the future to build an offshore deep-water port, making Vinh Long province one of the key provinces for marine economic development in the Mekong Delta region,” said Mr. Duong Van Ni.

On July 14, 2025, the Government Office issued Document No. 6467/VPCP-QHDP conveying the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long on the implementation of the conclusion of General Secretary To Lam at the working session with the Standing Committees of the Provincial Party Committees of the three provinces of Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh (formerly). Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction to study and handle the recommendations of the provinces, including the following content: Pay attention to, create favorable conditions and prioritize the allocation of public investment capital for projects on the coastal road that have been approved for investment according to the Government's resolution.

KHANH DUY

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/202508/khai-mo-tiem-nang-phat-trien-truc-kinh-te-bien-0c40321/