As one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has been investing heavily in its transportation infrastructure to support its expanding economic needs. A robust transportation network is crucial for national economic development and is also key to attracting foreign investment, boosting international trade, and promoting the growth of manufacturing and tourism. This document provides a detailed overview of Vietnam’s transportation infrastructure, focusing on roads, railways, waterways, and aviation.

Road Transport Network

Road transport is one of the most widely used forms of transportation in Vietnam. Recent data shows that the total length of roads in Vietnam is 595,000 kilometers, with national highways and expressways making up only 4.3% of this. Among these, national highways account for 24,321 kilometers, while expressways cover 1,239 kilometers, with a density of just 0.078 and 0.004 kilometers per square kilometer, respectively. Road transport handles more than 65% of Vietnam’s domestic freight. The Vietnamese government has prioritized road infrastructure development, continuously funding upgrades and expansions to meet increasing transportation demands.

1. National Highway Network

National Highway 1A: This is Vietnam’s most crucial north-south corridor, spanning the entire country from Lang Son Province in the north to Ca Mau Province in the south, with a total length of about 2,300 kilometers. It connects most of Vietnam’s major cities, including Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, and serves as a vital economic artery.

National Highway 5: This highway links Hanoi to Hai Phong Port, stretching about 106 kilometers, and is a key freight route in northern Vietnam. Hai Phong Port is one of Vietnam’s most important ports and handles a large volume of cargo.

Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong Expressway: This is Vietnam’s first expressway, extending about 62 kilometers and connecting Ho Chi Minh City to a major industrial hub in the south.

2. Expressway Development

Vietnam’s expressway network is expanding rapidly. According to the “Vietnam Transport Development Plan for 2021-2030,” the country aims to build about 5,000 kilometers of expressways by 2030. Currently, Vietnam has over 1,000 kilometers of operational expressways, including key routes like Ho Chi Minh City – My Tho and Hanoi – Hai Phong. These expressways have significantly improved transportation efficiency across regions in Vietnam, reducing travel time.

Vietnam’s roads also connect with neighboring countries such as China, Laos, and Cambodia. The Vietnam-China land border is 1,450 kilometers long, with seven northern Vietnamese provinces sharing borders with Guangxi and Yunnan provinces in China. There are 28 different-grade land border crossings between the two countries, most connected by various roads, with major border crossings including Dongxing-Mong Cai, Youyi Pass-Youyi Port, and Hekou-Lao Cai.

3. Future Development

To accommodate future economic growth, the Vietnamese government plans to continue investing in road construction, particularly in the central and southern regions, to further enhance inter-regional connectivity. There will also be a focus on improving urban transportation to reduce congestion and improve travel efficiency.

Railway Transport Network

Vietnam’s railway network spans 34 provinces and municipalities, with a total of 3,143 kilometers, consisting of 7 main lines and 12 branch lines. About 85% of the network uses narrow gauge tracks, 6% uses standard gauge, and the remaining 9% are mixed gauge. The average speed is less than 60 kilometers per hour, which limits the overall transport capacity. Although rail transport contributes a small share to Vietnam’s total freight volume, it plays a significant role in north-south traffic and international freight.

1. North-South Railway

The North-South Railway is the backbone of Vietnam’s railway system, stretching about 1,726 kilometers and connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. This line handles a large volume of north-south freight and passenger transport and is the most important railway route in Vietnam. Due to historical reasons, most sections of the North-South Railway are narrow gauge, resulting in low transport efficiency. In recent years, the Vietnamese government has launched an upgrade project for the North-South Railway, aiming to upgrade some sections to standard gauge to improve transport capacity.

2. International Railway Connections

Currently, Vietnam and China’s railways are connected only at Pingxiang in Guangxi and Hekou in Yunnan. During a visit by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to China, both sides issued a joint statement to enhance and deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership, including plans to cooperate on infrastructure construction and connectivity, and to expedite planning and evaluation of a standard gauge railway from Lao Cai to Hanoi and Hai Phong.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are building urban railway systems. The first urban railway line, Hanoi Line 2 (Cat Linh-Ha Dong section), built by a Chinese company, was completed and began commercial operation on November 6, 2021. Five other urban rail projects are still under construction.

3. Future Development

Vietnam plans to develop high-speed rail significantly. The revised railway development plan outlines that by 2050, Vietnam will construct the North-South High-Speed Railway connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in phases, spanning 20 provinces and cities, with a total length of 1,559 kilometers. The designed speed is 350 kilometers per hour, with an operating speed of 320 kilometers per hour.

Water Transport Network

Vietnam boasts a coastline of over 3,200 kilometers, with numerous ports from Hai Phong in the north to Ca Mau in the south. There are over 340 seaports and inland ports, making Vietnam a crucial maritime hub in Southeast Asia.

1. Maritime Transport

Vietnam’s marine transport has seen rapid growth in recent years. There are currently 49 seaports, including 17 first-class ports, 23 second-class ports, and 9 third-class ports. The national port system has 286 berths, including 50 in Hai Phong, 45 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and 43 in Ho Chi Minh City. The latest figures show that Vietnam’s port cargo throughput is 706 million tons, divided into six major port clusters from north to south: the northern cluster from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh, the north-central cluster from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh, the central cluster from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai, the south-central cluster from Binh Dinh to Binh Thuan, the southern cluster, and the Mekong Delta cluster. Most of the throughput is concentrated in the northern and southern clusters, accounting for about 80% of the total, with major ports including Hai Phong Port, Cai Mep Port, and Ho Chi Minh City Port. Currently, there is no international transshipment port in Vietnam, so import and export goods must be transshipped through places like Singapore and Hong Kong.

Hai Phong Port: Located about 100 kilometers from Hanoi, Hai Phong Port is the largest port in northern Vietnam. It is the most important import and export port in northern Vietnam, with an annual throughput exceeding 50 million TEUs. In recent years, Hai Phong Port has undergone significant expansion and modernization, further enhancing its position in international trade.

Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port: Located in southern Vietnam, Cai Mep is Vietnam’s only deep-water port capable of receiving ultra-large container ships. The port is approximately 50 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City and serves as a crucial gateway for imports and exports in southern Vietnam. Cai Mep’s annual throughput is close to 7 million TEUs and continues to expand.

Saigon Port: Saigon Port is one of the busiest ports in Vietnam, located in the country’s most economically developed region. The port handles a large volume of import and export cargo and serves as a major logistics hub in southern Vietnam.

2. Inland Water Transport

Vietnam’s inland waterway network totals 17,000 kilometers, mostly consisting of natural rivers, with 7,180 kilometers classified as national inland waterways. The average depth of northern rivers is about 2 to 2.5 meters, while southern rivers are deeper than 3 meters. Inland waterway transport is the second most important transport mode in Vietnam in terms of freight and passenger volume, after road transport. There are 292 inland waterway ports, including 217 cargo ports, 12 passenger ports, 2 integrated ports, and 63 specialized ports. Major ports are located in Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Hanoi, Long An, An Giang, Ninh Binh, and Thai Binh. Vessel tonnage ranges from 5 to 20 tons to 1,000 to 2,000 tons; the traction power is relatively low, about 4 to 5 tons per horsepower; and speed is relatively slow, at 5 to 8 kilometers per hour. Inland waterway transport is a common mode of freight transport in Vietnam, mainly carrying goods such as grain, coal, cement, stone, and sand.

3. Future Development

To enhance the competitiveness of its waterway and port facilities, the Vietnamese government plans to increase investment in waterway infrastructure in the coming years, focusing on enhancing port handling capacity and service levels. Additionally, Vietnam plans to build several new ports and port areas to meet the growing demand for cargo transportation.

Air Transport Network

With Vietnam’s rapid economic growth, air transport has become an increasingly important part of the country’s transportation system. Vietnam has 22 civil airports, including 10 international airports. There are 68 foreign airlines from 25 countries and regions and 6 local airlines, such as Vietnam Airlines, operating in the domestic and international aviation markets. Additionally, 22 airports are currently operational in Vietnam, including 9 international airports, with a total capacity of 95 million passengers per year.

1. Airport Construction

Tan Son Nhat International Airport: Located in Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat is the largest airport in Vietnam, with an annual passenger throughput exceeding 40 million. It is also the busiest cargo airport in Vietnam, handling most of the international freight transport in southern Vietnam. Tan Son Nhat International Airport is currently operating beyond its capacity, and the Vietnamese government is promoting an expansion plan to increase its capacity.

Noi Bai International Airport: Located in Hanoi, Noi Bai is the second-largest airport in Vietnam, with an annual passenger throughput exceeding 25 million. It is also a key air freight hub in northern Vietnam, linking the region with air routes worldwide.

Long Thanh International Airport: Long Thanh International Airport is one of Vietnam’s largest infrastructure projects under construction, located in Dong Nai Province, about 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. The airport is designed to become a significant aviation hub in Southeast Asia, with an expected annual passenger throughput of 100 million and an annual cargo throughput of 5 million tons. Its completion will significantly ease the burden on Tan Son Nhat International Airport and boost Vietnam’s position in the global aviation network.

2. Air Routes

Vietnam’s civil aviation fleet primarily consists of Airbus (models 320, 321, 330, 350) and Boeing (models 737, 767, 777, 787) aircraft. There are currently about 190 to 210 civil aircraft in operation. Besides the 6 local airlines, 68 foreign airlines from 25 countries operate international routes in Vietnam, with over 130 routes connecting more than 20 cities in Vietnam with 28 countries, including China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, Germany, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and India.

Air transport between China and Vietnam is growing rapidly. Vietnamese airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Jetstar Pacific, along with Chinese airlines like Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Okay Airways, operate routes between the two countries. Vietnamese destinations include Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Island, Hai Phong, Da Lat, and Van Don, while Chinese destinations include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Changsha, Xiamen, Nanning, and Hangzhou.

3. Airports

Vietnam currently has 22 operational airports, including 9 international airports. The total capacity is 95 million passengers per year. Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City are the two largest aviation hubs, both meeting 4E standards (ICAO).

The Vietnamese National Assembly has approved the investment in the construction of Long Thanh International Airport. Located in Dong Nai Province in the south, the airport’s total investment is VND 336.63 trillion (approximately USD 16.03 billion). It will be built in three phases, and upon completion, it will handle 100 million passengers and about 5 million tons of cargo annually, becoming a 4F-grade regional international aviation hub and the largest airport in Vietnam, as well as a major hub in Southeast Asia. The project has now completed bidding.

4. Future Development

Vietnam plans to continue expanding existing airports and building new ones over the next decade to accommodate the increasing demand for air transport. Especially with the rapid development of tourism, the Vietnamese government will accelerate the construction of airports in key tourist areas while improving air transport and airport services to enhance convenience for investors and international tourists.

Conclusion

Vietnam’s transportation infrastructure has seen significant development over the past few decades. Whether it is roads, railways, waterways, or aviation, Vietnam continues to invest heavily to expand the reach and capacity of its transportation network. As these infrastructures improve, Vietnam is set to play an increasingly important role in global supply chain and logistics management.

For businesses looking to expand into Vietnam, understanding and leveraging Vietnam’s transportation infrastructure will be key to success. Companies can plan and manage their logistics and supply chains more efficiently, reducing operational costs and enhancing competitiveness in the market.