In order to develop transportation for the logistics system from the inland province of Binh Duong to the deep-water port of Cai Mep in Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Cat Lai port in Ho Chi Minh city, Binh Duong is vigorously investing and upgrading to effectively exploit the waterway transportation system along the Saigon River within the province.
The urban area of port, logistics, and services in Ben Cat city has just been approved by the provincial People's Committee and is considered an important transportation hub connecting Ho Chi Minh city and the key economic region in the South of Vietnam.
Driving force and novel breakthroughs
Since its launch as a customs clearance location, Thanh Phuoc port in Tan Uyen city has been busy welcoming more ships for import and export procedures at the port on daily basis. While previously only a few ships were passing through every week, it can be clearly seen that the operation of Thanh Phuoc dry port for import and export procedures and customs clearance of goods has demonstrated the province's efforts in creating additional attraction for logistics and services.
Recently, People's Committee of the province has also issued a decision approving the urban development area along the Vanh Dai 4 of Ho Chi Minh city - Zone 1 in Ben Cat city with 10 urban areas and 4 ports. According to the decision, the urban development area along Vanh Dai 4 of Ho Chi Minh city - Zone 1, Ben Cat city will be a port, logistics, and service urban area with a scale of about 2,702 hectares in An Tay, An Dien, and Phu An. The port, logistics, and service urban area is considered an important transportation hub of Binh Duong province and a gateway connecting with Ho Chi Minh city via the Vanh Dai 4, in which, the project of technical infrastructure construction for 4 ports along the Saigon River will be implemented on a total investment capital of over 3,400 billion VND.
The planned area belongs to An Tay, An Dien wards and Phu An commune, in which, in An Tay ward, there will be the construction of 3 ports including An Tay port on an area of 100 hectares and investment capital of 2,300 billion VND for a time span from 2025 to 2030; Rach Bap port with an area of 8.51 hectares is covered by investment capital of 400 billion VND from 2027 to 2040; An Dien port with an area of 7.5 hectares is financed by investment capital of 400 billion VND from 2027 to 2040. Investment will be made in the construction of the Cai Lang inland water port with an area of 2.6 hectares in Phu An commune, costing 300 billion VND from 2027 to 2040. All projects will be publicly tendered to select investors.
The local Department of Transport has been implementing infrastructure projects in the transportation sector vigorously and comprehensively since 2021, especially the expressway and beltway projects under the management of the central government but entrusted to local authorities for investment. Up to now, national highways are being upgraded and expanded with funding from the budget as well as mobilization from economic entities to develop the transportation system.
To elevate attractiveness as an advantage
Currently, the transportation axes that connect regions and Binh Duong with provinces and cities in the region such as Bac Tan Uyen - Phu Giao - Bau Bang Road, Bach Dang 2 bridge, the upgrading and expanding National Highway 13, Vanh Dai 3, and Binh Duong section of Vanh Dai 4 (phase 1) are being urgently implemented. The Vanh Dai 4 project covers a total length of 207km, passing through 5 localities of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh city, Binh Duong, and Long An, of which the section passing through Binh Duong is 47.5km long. Specifically, the section passing through My Phuoc 3 and My Phuoc 4 Industrial Parks in Chanh Phu Hoa and Thoi Hoa wards of Ben Cat city covering a length of 8km has been invested into, completed, and put into operation earlier.
To fully exploit the potentials and strengths of the logistics, Binh Duong is making efforts to implement various solutions. Accordingly, the province is focusing on investing resources in key transportation routes, upgrading inland ports, railways, warehouse systems, yards etc. that can connect with seaports, river ports, train stations, international airports in the region to ensure smooth circulation of goods and favorable logistics operations.
The provincial People's Committee has also assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to find capable and experienced partners to invest in the construction of river ports in accordance with regulations. The project is expected to be implemented from now until 2040. These ports are built to serve the transportation of goods and form a logistics service chain with a multimodal transport model. The vertical water transport system on the Saigon River in the province, after completion, will become the centers for goods circulation in the region, reducing traffic load on roads, and promoting the province's socio-economic development.
Mr. Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, called the breakthrough policies “one step ahead" in investing in the development of infrastructure as Binh Duong has achieved key targets in the process of socio-economic development. The province has focused on mobilizing resources to invest in transportation infrastructure, which is increasingly improving and serving better for people's travel, goods transportation, and business transactions.
Reported by Ngoc Thanh – Translated by Vi Bao
