Ho Chi Minh City to commence major port projects ahead of April 30, 2026

To mark the 51st anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2026), Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating preparations to begin, break ground on, and launch a series of large-scale port projects. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has submitted a report to the City People’s Committee on the implementation status of port projects scheduled for groundbreaking around the upcoming holiday.

Three major port projects targeted around 30/4/2026

The report highlights three key projects: Cai Mep Ha Port and Terminal (Phase 1), Cai Mep Gemadept – Terminal Link Port (Phase 2), and Can Gio International Transshipment Port. Together, the projects involve investment in the trillions to hundreds of trillions of VND and are intended to support the formation of an international goods transshipment hub for Vietnam’s southern region.

Cai Mep Ha Port and Terminal (Phase 1)

Phase 1 is described as one of the largest projects, covering more than 351 hectares with total investment of about 50,200 billion VND. Within Phase 1, total investment is nearly 14,867 billion VND, with an expected capacity of 2 million TEUs per year.

The project is designed to receive container ships up to 250,000 DWT (about 24,000 TEUs), placing it among the largest ship classes currently in operation.

However, the city said the project does not yet meet all legal requirements required to officially start construction. Procedures related to land, environmental matters, feasibility study appraisal, and port technical agreements are still being finalized. As a result, the most feasible approach for the 30/4/2026 window is to proceed with site preparation and ancillary works rather than launching the full project as originally planned.

Cai Mep Gemadept – Terminal Link Port (Phase 2)

Phase 2 is progressing more smoothly. The project has estimated investment of about 8,361.6 billion VND, including expanding the quay system to accommodate larger container vessels.

Many key procedures have been completed, including land-use right certificates. Authorities have also agreed on detailed technical specifications. Based on this, the Department of Construction has concurred with the investor’s proposal to hold a groundbreaking ceremony on 17/4/2026.

The city described this as a major highlight and a kickoff for a series of infrastructure events tied to the national holiday.

Can Gio International Transshipment Port

Can Gio International Transshipment Port is a large-scale project with total investment of nearly 129,000 billion VND (about 5 billion USD) and an area of roughly 571 hectares. Its design capacity is up to 21 million TEUs per year, with the goal of becoming Southeast Asia’s international goods transshipment hub.

Although the project was approved in principle by the Prime Minister in early 2025, it remains in the investor-selection and appraisal phase. Therefore, the event planned for 30/4/2026 will be limited to a “groundbreaking and strategic-partner announcement,” contingent on formal approval of the investor consortium by competent authorities.

Regulatory compliance and coordination emphasized

According to the Department of Construction, the synchronized rollout of port projects around 30/4 carries political and social significance and reflects Ho Chi Minh City’s resolve to develop modern, integrated logistics infrastructure. At the same time, the report emphasized the need to strictly comply with land, construction, and environmental regulations to ensure feasibility and sustainability.

To speed up implementation, the Department urged relevant agencies to support investors in completing legal procedures, particularly land-use conversion, environmental impact assessments, and planning approvals. It also called on technical agencies to proactively address bottlenecks to keep the groundbreaking and related events on schedule.

Strategic role in regional logistics competition

In the context of intensifying competition among regional logistics hubs, developing large-scale, modern port systems is viewed as key to Ho Chi Minh City maintaining its role as an economic leadership hub. If implemented on schedule, the projects are expected to improve clearance throughput, reduce logistics costs, and support sustainable economic growth for the city and the southern economic region.