On September 23rd, Mr. Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Head of the Hai Phong National Assembly Delegation, chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee. The meeting reviewed and provided feedback on the establishment of the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone.
According to the proposal by the City People’s Committee Party Committee, the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone (Hai Phong FTZ) is proposed to cover an area of approximately 6,292 hectares. It is expected to be located within the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong and the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone. The zone will function as a comprehensive free trade area, distributed across three non-contiguous locations with various functional areas, including production, port and logistics, trade and services, and other legally defined functions.
The proposed locations are as follows: Location 1 is within the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong, covering an area of approximately 2,923 hectares in Chan Hung and Hung Thang communes. Location 2 is within the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone, encompassing the Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park (Zone 2) and the Tax-Free Zone and Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park (Zone 1), covering about 1,077 hectares. Location 3 is within the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone on Cat Hai Island, covering approximately 2,292 hectares in the Cat Hai Special Zone.
The development of the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone will be implemented in phases.
Phase 1 (2025-2030) focuses on legal framework, infrastructure, and pilot implementation. In 2025, the Hai Phong FTZ will be established; pilot mechanisms and policies will be applied to the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone; planning, investment, and construction will commence in the Southern Coastal Economic Zone; priority will be given to completing key infrastructure, seaports, and logistics functions; a management model and coordination mechanism for administrative and customs management will be finalized; and a special legal framework and decentralization mechanism will be developed.
From 2026 to 2028, the pilot mechanisms and policies will be fully implemented in the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone; planning procedures, investment approvals, and construction for functional sub-zones will continue; investor attraction and selection will be carried out for key infrastructure projects; and investment will be prioritized in line with approved planning and priority sectors.
Party Secretary Le Tien Chau concluding the meeting (Photo: Hai Phong E-Portal)
From 2028 to 2030, the pilot mechanisms and policies will be fully leveraged in the Dinh Vu – Cat Hai Economic Zone; basic technical infrastructure will be completed; and the pilot mechanisms will be extensively applied to the Southern Coastal Economic Zone.
Phase 2 (2030 – 2035) will focus on maximizing the effectiveness of pilot mechanisms, completing infrastructure, and expanding functional zones. Comprehensive incentives will be implemented, and port and urban projects will be developed as planned.
The Standing Committee of the City Party Committee agreed on the proposal and will submit it to the City Party Executive Committee for approval. The City People’s Committee Party Committee will finalize the submission, and the official establishment of the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone is expected in 2025.
In his concluding remarks, Party Secretary Le Tien Chau emphasized that the establishment of the free trade zone is a “strategic move” to achieve Hai Phong’s goal of becoming a major seaport city, a leading industrial and logistics hub, and a pioneer in industrialization, modernization, and digital transformation. The city aims for a GRDP growth rate of 13-14% per year from 2025 to 2030.
Mr. Chau stressed that the management model of the free trade zone must be modern and smart, adhering to the “one-stop-shop” principle, in compliance with domestic and international laws, while ensuring rapid development, national defense, security, and balanced budget revenue.
“Northern Vietnam’s Premier Port Operator Establishes a 20,000-Hectare Coastal Economic Zone, Targeting Over 300,000 New Jobs”
The Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong is strategically designed to maximize its advantageous position as an international gateway. With a focus on harnessing its strong industrial foundation and port services, the zone aims to drive economic connectivity and thrive as a bustling hub of maritime commerce.
Establishing the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong
On December 4th, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No. 1511/QD-TTg to establish the Southern Coastal Economic Zone of Hai Phong.
