Quang Ninh signs memorandum of understanding with US institute to develop Con Ong–Hon Net deep-water port into a regional logistics hub

Quang Ninh Province signed a memorandum of understanding with the Northeast Maritime Institute (United States) to develop the Con Ong – Hon Net deep-water port into a modern logistics gateway for the Northeast region. The agreement was signed on the morning of April 16 and is valid for three years, with a focus on building a smart, sustainable port ecosystem.

Project aims and development direction

Bui Van Khang, chairman of Quang Ninh’s People’s Committee, said the maritime economy is a key driver for sustainable growth and for improving the province’s competitiveness. The Con Ong – Hon Net port is identified as a top-priority project to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

Under the plan, the port will be located in the southern part of Bai Tu Long Bay, leveraging natural deep-water conditions and sheltering islands. The site is intended to accommodate container ships of up to 100,000 DWT and bulk carriers of up to 200,000 tons.

Connectivity and investment expectations

The port is expected to support strong multimodal connectivity through an inter-provincial expressway and Van Don International Airport. In the future, connectivity is also expected to be enhanced by the Haiphong–Ha Long–Mong Cai railway.

Quang Ninh said it hopes that, through the Northeast Maritime Institute’s network, the project will attract capital from American investors and global maritime funds to develop a smart, low-emission port ecosystem.

Environmental and long-term outlook

Eric R. Dawicki, president of the Northeast Maritime Institute (NMI), described the project as long-term and groundbreaking, saying it could become an important maritime hub that helps Vietnam strengthen connections to international trade routes. He added that developing the port in a modern, environmentally friendly direction is expected to reduce environmental pressure on Ha Long Bay and advance a blue economy.

Quang Ninh stated it is committed to a transparent and favorable investment environment to help bring the project to fruition and establish a new international maritime destination in northern Vietnam.

Location, current operations, and capacity

The Con Ong – Hon Net port is in the southern part of Bai Tu Long Bay, with water depths ranging from −7 m to −13.4 m. The port currently operates two anchorages: the Con Ong coal wharf for ships up to 70,000 tons, and the Hon Net transshipment anchorage for ships from 3,000 to 200,000 tons.

Total designed capacity is approximately 7.14 million tons per year at the land-based berth and 76.64 million tons per year at the offshore anchorage.