Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) reports that central Vietnam possesses numerous advantages for developing its logistics industry. However, to meet international standards and become a pillar industry, a comprehensive and unified macro-strategic and policy system is still needed.
Strategic Location for Logistics Development
Nguyen Nhat Tan, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, stated that the north-central and south-central coastal regions of Vietnam have a unique geographical location. Situated in the heart of the country, they are connected to two major growth poles via road, rail, sea, and air transport systems. They serve as a vital bridge for international exchange, a transit hub for goods from the Central Highlands, and a convenient gateway to the sea for southern Laos, northeastern Thailand, and northeastern Cambodia.
Nguyen Nhat Tan pointed out that this strategic location makes the region a convergence point for the flow of goods, from raw materials, agricultural products, and minerals to processed products, serving both domestic market and import/export needs. He emphasized, "Cross-border logistics will become a strategic lever for enhancing the value of the regional supply chain."
With its numerous suitable potential advantages, many areas in central Vietnam have identified logistics as one of their key areas for future development.
Nguyen Van Phuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hue City, stated that the city aims to become one of the major central cities in Southeast Asia by 2030, with logistics being a pillar of green development. Hue will accelerate its digital transformation, integrating logistics with the product value chain to enhance its competitiveness.
Le Duc Tien, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri Province, stated that since July 1, 2025, Quang Tri Province and Quang Binh Province have merged to form the new Quang Tri Province, located in the center of the East-West Economic Corridor, connecting Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. The province boasts various transportation modes, including seaports, airports, and highways, and is expected to become a connecting hub between the North-Central region and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Identifying Weaknesses and Seeking Breakthroughs
Nguyen Thanh Tan stated that the logistics infrastructure in the central region still lacks synchronization, transportation costs are high, the efficiency of port-railway-road-air transport connections is low, and the number of modern multimodal transport centers is insufficient. Furthermore, investment policies for large-scale logistics infrastructure have limited attractiveness, SMEs lack funding for technological innovation, and productivity is low. Mechanisms for cultivating and attracting high-quality human resources in the industry remain weak.
From a business perspective, Tang Qingxing, Deputy General Manager of Haoxing Co., Ltd., suggested that an electronic single window mechanism should be implemented in all seaports to promote digital logistics operations, and a special working group should be established to assist businesses in resolving practical difficulties.
Chen Qinghai, Deputy Director of the Import and Export Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, believes that to improve logistics, the central region should increase the supply of goods and establish free trade zones around ports, border crossings, and airports.
Ho Xuan Hoai, Director of the Quang Tri Provincial Department of Industry and Trade, stated that the success of free trade zones depends on a stable legal framework and unified policies between the central and local governments regarding tariffs, customs, and the single window mechanism to ensure efficient, transparent, and low-cost flow of goods east-west and within the Greater Mekong Subregion. (End)
