A container ship anchored at Xiansha Port in Da Nang sounded its horn and set sail. Tourists on the nearby seaside promenade raised their phones - this scene of "freight and tourism competing for the coastline" is about to become history due to the rise of a new port.

Super Blueprint

In 2016, Vietnam approved the Lianzhao Port project. Now, this plan has finally been implemented. The project is jointly constructed by Vietnam Haitai Group and APM Terminals under Maersk, with a total investment of over 1.7 billion US dollars and covering an area of 172.6 hectares.

The port will build 8 container berths with a coastline of 2750 meters, capable of accommodating ultra large container ships with 18000 TEUs.

The designed annual throughput is 5.7 million TEUs, equivalent to 74 million tons of cargo. By 2030, the annual freight volume is expected to reach 14.25 million to 36.3 million tons, and upon completion, it will become one of the largest container ports in central Vietnam.

Alternation of old and new

At present, the core freight port of Danang, Xiansha Port, is located in the city center, with limited geographical space and difficult expansion, and its throughput capacity is close to saturation. The entry and exit of freight vehicles bring enormous pressure to urban transportation.

With the continuous development of Vietnam's manufacturing industry and the rapid growth of export trade in the central region, the construction of a new port is urgently needed. The construction of Lianzhao Deepwater Port will separate the port functions: all freight business will be transferred to Lianzhao Port, and Xiansha Port will focus on developing tourism and cruise business.

This functional separation can not only alleviate urban traffic pressure, but also improve logistics efficiency and support industrial upgrading in the central region.

National Port Strategy

Vietnam is accelerating port construction and forming three core port systems covering the whole country: the northern part is centered around Lixian Port, connecting with China and Northeast Asia for trade; The southern region relies on the port of Gaimei Schwei to serve European and American long-distance shipping routes; The central region, with Lianzhao Port as the main force, undertakes the export demand of central industries.

Lianzhao Port will also be equipped with logistics centers, industrial parks, free trade zones, and multimodal transportation systems to form a complete industrial ecosystem near the port. The port plan connects Laos, northeastern Thailand, and the central economic corridor of Vietnam, and opens up the Southeast Asian inland sea route.

Global shipping giants enter the market

APM Terminals, as one of the world's largest container terminal operators operating over 70 ports in 38 countries, has partnered with Vietnam's Haitai Group to bring international operational experience and global shipping network resources to Lianzhao Port.

Haitai Group is a large diversified industrial group in Vietnam, which has built projects such as Port 5 and Port 6 in Haiphong County. This combination of "international experience+local strength" has made Lianzhao Port globally competitive from the early stages of construction.

The construction period of Lianzhao Port in the northwest of Danang will continue until 2036, with an operating period of 50 years. A multimodal transportation system is being planned around the port, which will connect Laos, northeastern Thailand, and the central economic corridor of Vietnam.

Vietnam is forming a development model of "manufacturing+ports+global supply chain". After the operation of Lianzhao Port, Da Nang will transform into a logistics and trade hub, ushering in a new stage of development for Vietnam's port and shipping industry.Editor/Yang Meiling