Planning of Liên Chiểu port terminals (Da Nang).
Attraction of the mega‑project
The process of seeking a worthy investor to develop the Liên Chiểu container terminals has just been relaunched with the People’s Committee of Da Nang City issuing Official Dispatch No. 314/UBND‑STC to the Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Construction; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ministry of Public Security; and the State Bank, requesting appraisal opinions on the investment‑policy proposal for the Liên Chiểu Container Port Comprehensive Project.
In that dispatch, alongside requesting appraisal opinions, the Da Nang People’s Committee also asked the Ministry of Finance for specific guidance regarding the dossier, appraisal content, and investment‑policy approval dossier for the Liên Chiểu Container Port Comprehensive Project.
On May 29, 2025, the Ministry of Finance received a complete dossier requesting approval of the investment policy for the Liên Chiểu Container Port Comprehensive Project from a consortium of three investors, including Hateco Group Joint Stock Company, Hatecoport Sea Port Co. Ltd., and APM Terminals B.V. (Netherlands).
Liên Chiểu port area planning
Planning to 2030:
+ Throughput: from 8.7 million tons to 13.7 million tons.
+ Port scale: 5–8 newly built berths with a total quay length from 1,420 m to 2,820 m; one bulk‑cargo berth of 100 m; three dedicated offshore buoys to be relocated.
Vision to 2050:
The Liên Chiểu port area is oriented to ultimately develop a total of 22 berths to accommodate cargo growth, including: eight liquid/gas berths; eight container berths; six multipurpose and bulk cargo berths, with container berths expanded by planning phases as demand arises.
After 2030, the Tiên Sa port’s function will gradually convert into a tourism port aligned with the investment and exploitation progression of the Liên Chiểu port area.
Source: Detailed planning for development of land and water areas of Da Nang seaport region for the 2021–2030 period, with vision to 2050.
On June 4, 2025, the Ministry of Finance issued Official Dispatch No. 7804/BTC‑ĐT requesting appraisal opinions from relevant ministries, agencies, and the Da Nang People’s Committee regarding the dossier filed by the Hateco – Hatecoport – APM Terminals B.V consortium.
Notably, within 20 calendar days from receiving the first valid application from the Hateco – Hatecoport – APM Terminals B.V consortium, the Ministry of Finance also received investment‑policy dossiers from two other investor consortia.
Specifically, on June 10, 2025, the Ministry received a dossier from the second consortium consisting of Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) and Terminal Investment Limited Holding – Luxembourg.
This project is located in the same area proposed by the first consortium.
On June 17, 2025, the Ministry again received a dossier from a third investor consortium comprising Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Limited (India) and T&T Group Joint Stock Company. This proposal also targets the same investment location as the first and second consortia.
Based on regulations in point a, clause 7, Article 29 of Decree No. 31/2021/ND‑CP guiding implementation of the Investment Law, the Ministry of Finance issued Official Dispatch No. 9236/BTC‑ĐT on June 26, 2025, to the above‑mentioned three investor consortia (and the Da Nang People’s Committee), notifying them of procedures for approving investment policy and selecting the investor for the Liên Chiểu Container Port Comprehensive Project according to clause 7, Article 29 of Decree No. 31/2021/ND‑CP.
However, on June 25, 2025, the National Assembly passed Law No. 90/2025/QH15, amending several laws including the Procurement Law; Investment Law via public‑private partnership (PPP); Customs Law; VAT; Export‑import tax; Investment management; Public‑investment Law; and Public asset management and use Law. That law took effect on July 1, 2025.
Under the newly amended Article 32(e), clause 1, Investment Law as modified by Article 6(b), clause 8, of Law No. 90/2025/QH15, the project now falls under the authority for investment‑policy approval of the Da Nang People’s Committee.
This is precisely why the Da Nang People’s Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 314/UBND‑STC requesting appraisal opinions regarding the Liên Chiểu Container Port Comprehensive Project.
According to Vietnam Maritime Administration, Liên Chiểu Port is envisioned to become an international gateway port, attracting major global shipping and logistics lines. It can accommodate large vessels, offering capacity for container freight transport and transshipment with other international ports.
Notably, in the future, when Liên Chiểu port is established, it will be linked with the Da Nang Free Trade Zone, facilitating Da Nang’s emergence as a regional and international cargo transit hub, and contributing significantly to attracting strong investment flows into the city.
This is also why the investment in the Liên Chiểu port berths has received strong interest from leading domestic and international investors in shipping, logistics, and maritime transport.
Major investors
The dossier submitted by the Hateco – Hatecoport – APM Terminals B.V consortium is currently being evaluated as the first investor applicant.
Under current regulations, in cases like this Liên Chiểu Comprehensive Container Port Project where two or more investor groups submit valid proposals for investment at the same site within the 20‑day window, the competent authority proceeds based on the proposal of the **first** investor to file.
If the first proposal does not meet the conditions specified in clause 3, Article 33 of the Investment Law, evaluation then continues to the proposals of subsequent investors in order.
The Hateco – Hatecoport – APM Terminals B.V consortium proposes to develop eight container berths with comprehensive infrastructure and modern facilities, meeting green port standards and international transshipment criteria, on approximately 172.6 ha.
Specifically, the land‑use planning covers 146.84 ha (136.71 ha for container port construction; 9.26 ha for rail yard and centralized parking; 0.6 ha for connecting railway; 0.27 ha for technical infrastructure hub), with 25.76 ha of water area (fore-bay).
The consortium commits to implementing the project in accordance with Prime Minister’s Decision No. 140/QĐ‑TTg dated January 16, 2025 approving detailed port group planning, and Ministry of Construction Decision No. 320/QĐ‑BXD dated March 28, 2025 approving detailed planning for land and water areas of Da Nang seaport region for 2021–2030, vision to 2050.
Concretely, the project will construct 8 container berths with total quay length of 2,750 m, capable of handling container vessels up to 18,000 TEU, implemented in three investment phases and adjustable according to cargo demand and authorities’ approved timelines.
With a total design capacity of approximately 5.7 million TEU/year (equivalent to around 74 million tons/year), including capacity up to 14.25–36.3 million tons/year by 2030, the project’s total investment is estimated at VND 45,268 billion. This is the largest capital scale for a port investment operation ever undertaken in Vietnam’s central region.
The projected charter capital of the economic entity that will execute the project is VND 9,053.6 billion (approximately USD 351.596 million), corresponding to 20% of total investment. Investor contributions to charter capital will be made in phases according to the project’s investment schedule.
The consortium proposes a three‑phase rollout. In Phase I (Q4 2025 to Q4 2028), they will build berths No. 1 and 2 (750 m) to accommodate 100,000‑ton vessels initially and later 200,000‑ton vessels, along with auxiliary infrastructure (43.46 ha); land reclamation for rail yard and parking (9.26 ha); connecting railway (0.6 ha); technical hub (0.27 ha); dredging for the fore‑bay and water area (~7.5 ha).
In their proposal, the Hateco – Hatecoport – APM Terminals consortium expresses strong confidence in their capabilities and experience in port investment and operations.
This confidence is well‑founded—APM Terminals is one of the world’s largest container terminal operators, part of the AP Moller‑Maersk Group. They currently manage container terminals and offer integrated services in over 70 port facilities and inland terminals across 38 countries on 5 continents.
Alongside the renowned Maersk shipping line within the same group, APM Terminals brings considerable technical expertise and deep market knowledge, enabling them to identify key challenges and propose highly viable solutions.
Meanwhile, Hateco is a large multi‑sector Vietnamese group founded in 2004. It pioneered major infrastructure projects such as Berths 5 and 6 at Lach Huyen Port (Hai Phong); Bac Tien Phong Industrial Park (Quang Ninh); and the Long Bien ICD Dry Port (Hanoi).
“APM Terminals and Hateco are developing a strategic partnership at the Hateco Hai Phong International Port, aiming to make it the largest, most modern and sustainable container port in northern Vietnam,” the Hateco‑APM consortium states in their proposal.