Can Gio international transshipment port – strategic vision and breakthrough connection

Can Gio International Transshipment Port (SIGP) project is becoming the focus of attention, not only in professional circles but also in the whole public, because this is a historical turning point that is expected to reshape the future of the maritime industry.

With its strategic scale and stature, Can Gio Transshipment Port is not just a simple project, it is a great breakthrough in the development of the national seaport system. The project promises to bring huge economic benefits, creating the most modern transit gateway in the region, thereby: Strengthening Vietnam’s position on the global logistics map; Strongly attracting international investment capital flow; Expanding economic cooperation, maximizing the potential of the sea.

The idea of a “super” international port in Can Gio comes from the enthusiasm and deep experience of Mr. Nguyen Le Chon Tam – General Director of Saigon Port Joint Stock Company (CSG). With many years of experience in the Port industry, Mr. Tam has cherished and boldly made a proposal for Can Gio International Transshipment Port, expecting to create a historic breakthrough for Vietnam’s seaport system.

This enthusiastic proposal was reported to Mr. Le Anh Son – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) (now General Director of VIMC). The idea has received strong support from Mr. Huynh Van Cuong – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saigon Port and Mr. Vo Hoang Giang – Secretary of the Saigon Port Party Committee (at the time of 2022). With a strategic vision, Mr. Le Anh Son agreed and created conditions for Saigon Port to concretize this idea into reality.

From the idea of reality – the decisive connection

Deeply aware of the great potential and strategic position of Can Gio, Mr. Nguyen Le Chon Tam has proactively and persistently established a link with MSC-TIL (Terminal Investment Limited), the port and logistics unit of the Mediterranean shipping company (MSC) – one of the largest container shipping lines in the world.

This historic connection has opened a door to strategic cooperation, helping to realize the idea of a regional international transshipment port. After receiving strong consensus and support from the leaders of Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) and Saigon Port Joint Stock Company, the vision of Can Gio International Transshipment Port has gradually been officially laid.

This is not just a simple meeting, but an action to create opportunities, bringing Vietnam’s aspiration to develop Vietnam’s seaport to a new level through cooperation with leading global partners.

The process of bringing the Can Gio International Transhipment Port project closer to reality

The proposals related to the Can Gio port project from July 2020 to January 2021 were carefully considered and discussed by Mr. Boris Cohen and Mr. Romain Simon – representatives of MSC shipping company and Mr. Nguyen Le Chon Tam – General Director of Saigon Port. After that, Saigon Port agreed and submitted proposals to Mr. Le Anh Son – Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mr. Nguyen Canh Tinh – General Director of VIMC in February 2021.

Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) has approved the plan to submit proposals to the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the Ministry of Transport/Vietnam Maritime Bureau (Vinamarine) in March 2021. In October 2021, Mr. Le Anh Son – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Maritime Corporation VIMC approved the plan to sign a cooperation framework agreement with MSC – TIL.

In the last period of 2021 and 2022, VIMC and Saigon Port have actively and synchronously implemented important steps to take the Can Gio International Transhipment Port project further in the appraisal and approval process:

– December 2021: Report the feasibility to the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to enlist the support of the government.

– March 2022: Working with the Vietnam Maritime Administration to assess the technical and conformity with the national seaport planning.

– July 2022: Submit a report to the Ministry of Transport for approval of the investment policy.

– September 2022: Coordinate with the Department of Planning and Investment and other departments and branches of Ho Chi Minh City to complete legal procedures and land use planning.

The policy of building Can Gio International Transshipment Port in Ho Chi Minh City has received the absolute and highest consensus from the National Assembly, the Central and local governments, which is clearly affirmed through a series of key legal Resolutions and decisions:

– Comprehensive strategic orientation: The project has been included in the National Master Plan (period 2021 – 2030, vision 2050) according to Resolution No. 81/2023/QH15 dated January 9, 2023 of the National Assembly.

– High-level political commitment: The consensus is expressed through important Resolutions of the Central Committee, including: Resolution 12-NQ/TU dated September 26, 2022 of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee.

– Resolution 24-NQ/TW dated October 7, 2022 and Resolution 31-NQ/TW dated December 30, 2022 of the Politburo.

– Resolution 138/NQ-CP dated October 25, 2022 of the Government.

Most importantly, the project benefits from specific mechanisms and policies to develop Ho Chi Minh City, stipulated in Resolution 98/2023/QH15 dated June 24, 2023 of the National Assembly.

In particular, on December 11, 2025, the National Assembly approved the Resolution of the National Assembly amending and supplementing a number of articles of Resolution 98 on piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City. In which, additional priority groups to attract investment, a complex of infrastructure construction investment projects in the free trade zone include: port investment with a capital of VND 75,000 billion or more; investment in logistics centers with an investment capital of VND 25,000 billion or more; investment in industrial, urban and service functional areas with an investment capital of VND 20,000 billion or more.

This series of strict legal documents has created a solid legal corridor, affirming that Can Gio International Transshipment Port is a national key project, playing a strategic role in creating a new development motivation for both Ho Chi Minh City and the entire maritime economy of Vietnam.

The importance of Can Gio Port not only stops at the business level but has been raised to the national strategic level. After a special inspection visit in Can Gio, the Prime Minister emphasized: “The construction of Can Gio International Transhipment Port must be placed in the interests and strategies of the marine economy development of the whole country”.

At the same time, the Prime Minister clearly directed the need to consider Can Gio International Transshipment Port and Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port Cluster as a unified and inseparable port cluster, creating a strong logistics ecosystem for the Southern region.

Thus, from the initiated idea of Ho Chi Minh City, through the support of VIMC and Saigon Port, to the direction of the Central Government, Can Gio Port has been shaped as a thorough and inevitable part of Vietnam’s marine economic development strategy.

“Heaven, geography, harmony”

According to Mr. Nguyen Le Chon Tam, Can Gio International Transshipment Port Project is built on a foundation of “heavenly time, geographically” that could not be better, converging all the necessary factors to become a regional maritime center:

Prime location: The construction area at Phu Loi island is located at the mouth of Cai Mep – Thi Vai river, adjacent to busy international shipping routes. This location is not only optimal for maritime but also a strategic advantage for the development of the shipping industry and logistics services.

Optimal shipping flow: Cai Mep – Thi Vai flow is currently considered the best shipping flow in Vietnam, capable of receiving super-large ships, optimizing for both domestic and international transshipment activities – a key factor for a global transshipment port.

Can Gio area is not a temporary idea but has been oriented as a potential harbor in previous plans. Can Gio Transshipment Port Project is located in the Southern dynamic economic zone.

This is the most dynamic economic zone of Vietnam, creating absolutely favorable conditions to attract international transshipment goods and a huge amount of domestic import and export goods.

This area currently has the amount of containers passing through the port accounting for over 65% of the country. This is the “solid rear” and an abundant supply of import and export goods, ensuring the exploitation capacity and economic efficiency for Can Gio port as soon as it comes into operation.

The convergence of strategic location, ideal natural conditions and strong economic potential has turned Can Gio Port into a project that is not only feasible but also inevitable for the development of Vietnam.

When the Department of Transport of Ho Chi Minh City (now the Department of Construction) held a consultation, the Can Gio Port project received a high appreciation from leading experts on seaports, typically experts from the University of Tokyo, Japan.

International experts clearly commented on the strategic location, potential and great opportunities when the transshipment port was formed in Can Gio. This analysis is based on a global trend: Containerized goods through the port are growing strongly. Major shipping lines are stepping up investment in super-large container ships to optimize carrying capacity on intercontinental routes.

The combination of increased goods and large ships requires shipping lines to look for large ports, deep-water ports and suitable exploitation scales. This is the big gap that Vietnam currently has no port to fully meet. Can Gio Port is an urgent solution to meet this trend.

The “reconciliation” factor is now considered to be absolutely favorable and decisive. That is the consensus and consistency in the policies and goals of strong development in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region, clearly shown through important resolutions of: National Assembly, Politburo, Government. Along with the close attention of the Prime Minister and central ministries and branches, a legal corridor and political dynamics have been opened. This not only creates opportunities but also is the driving force for Ho Chi Minh City to be determined to research and implement the project, turning Can Gio International Transshipment Port into a common achievement of the whole country.

Can Gio International Transshipment Port project has quickly proven its global appeal when attracting special attention from strategic investors, especially MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) – one of the largest container shipping lines in the world.

The fact that a giant in the maritime industry like MSC actively proposes investment and wishes to accelerate the progress to promptly catch the global shipping trend is the clearest proof of the feasibility and outstanding strategic position of Can Gio Port.

MSC has constantly sent a team of leading experts to Can Gio to directly survey, evaluate and select the location of port construction. This action not only affirms the strong attractiveness of the place but also shows the serious commitment of international investors.
With the participation of MSC – an investor with abundant financial resources, advanced technology and modern management level from developed countries, this is a golden opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City to attract high-quality investment capital, access the world’s most advanced port exploitation technology, improve competitiveness and national logistics position.

This cooperation is not only an investment but also a transfer of knowledge, ensuring that Can Gio Port will become a modern transfer center, meeting the strict standards of the international maritime industry.

Free trade is a world trend from the “super” Can Gio Port

The establishment of Can Gio International Transshipment Port, along with the development of the transport network, will be a key factor in forming an important maritime trade hub in the region. This not only encourages the world’s leading shipping lines to set up a transshipment hub here but also positions the Cai Mep – Can Gio port cluster on the world maritime map at a new level.

When the port comes into operation, a series of maritime, transportation and logistics service companies will gather in Can Gio to set up offices and set up headquarters. This shift will strongly promote the formation of a regional financial and service center, and is the key driving force for the birth of the first Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Ho Chi Minh City.

The decision to invest in the development of Can Gio International Transhipment Port of Saigon Port is a strategic step with a long-sighted vision, completely in line with the global economic and logistics trend.

The combination of a super modern seaport and a dynamic free trade area in Can Gio will create a great boost to the economic development of Ho Chi Minh City, improve international competitiveness and affirm the city’s position as a leading logistics and trade center in the region.

In particular, this project is completely consistent and realizes Decision No. 1711/QD-TTg dated December 31, 2024 of the Prime Minister on Planning Ho Chi Minh City to 2050, which has the strategic content of “forming a free trade zone (FTZ) in Can Gio”.