South Van Phong International Port: Toward a Major Seaport in Central Region

Since its inception, South Van Phong International Port (SVP) has always strived to find a sustainable development approach to gradually become a major commercial connection hub for the South Central and Central Highlands regions. In that spirit, the port will confidently get closer to the goal of being a major seaport in the central region and a center for logistics services, freight storage and distribution. To learn more about SVP, our reporters have an interview with Mr. Huynh Vinh Phuoc, General Director of South Van Phong International Port Company.

With its existing advantages, South Van Phong International Port is becoming a major commercial connection hub for the South Central and Central Highlands regions. Could you tell us more about this through the values the company holds?

South Van Phong general port started operations in May 2020. The port has a wharf on both sides, capable of receiving cargo vessels and container vessels of up to 70,000DWT. In 2023, the cargo throughput exceeded 1 million metric tons. With the determination and effort of all employees and with the market recovery, the total output in 2024 was forecast to surpass that in 2023.

South Van Phong International Port

In addition, currently positive signals for local development are making us more confident about getting closer to our goals. In the coming time, Khanh Hoa province will have a synchronous and smooth road system. On the horizontal axis, Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway will connect the East - West Corridor and this route will be the driving force for development and interlink the two regions. Regarding the North-South vertical axis, in addition to the existing National Highway 1A, a North-South expressway will be formed to facilitate traffic and function as a link for freight circulation and transactions.

Your company is developing and expanding a petroleum terminal and a 200,000DWT bulk cargo terminal. What are these facilities for?

For the planned petroleum terminal, the company will study and propose an investment project to build a petroleum terminal to dock large-capacity vessels. The Ministry of Transport approved the inclusion of the petroleum terminal for Ninh Thuy petroleum depot into the detailed planning of the South Central Coast seaport cluster.

For the bulk cargo terminal, the company is studying the scale and investment roadmap in technology and expertise given that the economic efficiency and cargo supply for it are ensured.

Currently, the company is looking forward to receiving container ships with fixed routes to South Van Phong Port. Nonetheless, post-port logistics still falls short of importers and exporters. Hopefully, the province and the region will quickly build new industrial parks, at which time the port will be able to receive container goods. At the same time, the company itself will continue to carry out many additional solutions for customers in order to strengthen the connection system to make it not only a place to handle imports and exports but also a regional transit center.

In particular, the company will invest in expanding ports, warehouses, yards, equipment and infrastructure in the spirit of closely following market developments and basing on orientations in some plans such as Khanh Hoa Provincial Master Plan, General Construction Planning for Van Phong Economic Zone and Master Plan for Vietnam Seaport System Development to have appropriate investment and development directions.

To become the largest port in the Central region and the leading cargo transit terminal in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, what core values does the company need to focus on?

According to the development roadmap, South Van Phong International Port will continue to invest in completing infrastructure to develop logistics services for the port, including specialized transport vehicles, modern lifting equipment, and expanded logistics, warehousing, trade and professional training services for employees. It will encourage high-quality human resources which are well-trained in maritime, seaport and logistics. It will embrace information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to operate the seaport.

In all activities, the company always strives to adhere to human safety goals and protect a green, clean, and beautiful environment. To concretize this resolve, since its inception, the company advocated supplying professional port services with modern equipment, highly specialized, skilled, productive and disciplined human resources. In addition, labor safety is assigned special importance. Periodically, the company hires qualified agencies to train its employees in labor safety.

Machines, equipment and materials subject to strict labor safety requirements are inspected before being put into use and checked every year. The outcomes are reported to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Besides, the company has a risk assessment process and preventive measures, of which employees are informed for thorough comprehension.

Green ports have become a common development trend for investors, businesses and countries, and circular economic development has become mandatory and determinate to the success of the freight forwarding industry. What do you think about this?

Sustainable port development and green and smart port construction have become a top priority, a vital trend not only for port operators but also for authorities, organizations and associations. This also represents a sustainable port development model, not only meeting environmental needs but also increasing economic benefits.

To achieve this goal, the company is considering applying plans and implementing programs to respond appropriately to general trends. In particular, the quality of human resources plays an important role in business development. Accordingly, the company has gradually built good human resources, along with raising their awareness to sort waste at the source, dispose of waste in right places and transfer waste to capable units for settlement and treatment by law.

Indeed, all of these values will be favorable and prerequisite for South Van Phong International Port to effectively perform its role as a logistics center for the region, support the marine economic development strategy and match with market development orientations.

Thank you so much!

By Hoang Lam, Vietnam Business Forum