In a site visit checking project progress on November 11, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that Lien Chieu port investment was part of a long-term vision, as the port was slated to become an international gateway in the central coastal region, and a convergence point of the East-West corridor crossing four countries in Indochina.

Transport advance to activate development

Leveraging this planning, Danang is aiming to shape a modern and seamless transport network, connecting to major industrial areas and transnational transport systems, helping to turbocharge investment.

Bui Hong Trung, director of Danang Department of Transport, said that the city was accelerating investment in major road systems linking to residential and urban areas, simultaneously connecting to city-based industrial parks and neighbouring localities in a bid to gradually perfect local transport and economic infrastructure.

In light of the city’s planning scheme for 2021-2030, Danang aims to build a western ring road; study the planning for a tunnel passing the airport, helping to connect east with west; and add new routes connecting Lien Chieu Port to a bypass south of Hai Van Tunnel.

In addition, the city is set to upgrade convergence points between provincial roads and highways passing the province, along with enhancing traffic capacity and safety.

Danang also aims to build the Danang-Thanh My-Ngoc Hoi-Bo Y Highway system connecting to Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway; as well as upgrading several other local highways.

Efforts are also being geared towards upgrading and expanding the road sections under the East-West corridors connecting Tien Sa port in Danang to Thua Thien-Hue province, and to the Lao border crossing in Quang Tri province. This is an important eastern gateway, helping to enhance Danang’s links to neighbouring countries in Indochina.

Of equal importance as boosting the road network is developing railway systems, particularly the Danang railway station, the existing Kim Lien station and the new replacement station, as well as bolstering road and urban railway infrastructures with the existing airport.

The city is also prioritising investment into an urban railway system to connect Danang international airport with the central business district.

The express railway and a common railway will run parallel to an expressway heading to the east; other tasks involve planning the Danang-Kon Tum railway connecting to the North-South railway at new Danang railway station after 2030, and building a central railway logistics station in Hoa Lien commune.

Other tasks involve planning transit parking sites, with priority given to transit points between public transport system and personal vehicles at areas hosting a high volume of traffic.

In addition, Danang also aims to accommodate Vietnam’s third-largest international airport with numerous domestic and international connections.

As part of the city’s planning scheme to 2030, Danang aims to upgrade and expand its civil aviation area and aircraft parking space to raise the airport capacity to handle around 25 million passengers per year and serve as a specialised aviation logistics centre. By 2050, efforts would be made to heighten the airport capacity to greet 30 million passengers per year.

Steps will also gear towards building roads connecting to inland ports, focusing on Lien Chieu, Tien Sa, and Tho Quang ports.

Danang’s port system is the major one in central Vietnam, and Vietnam’s third-largest port group, including Tien Sa and Han River ports. Due to its strategic location at the end of the East-West economic corridor, Danang’s port has the potential to become a major port for Laos and an alternative in serving Thailand and Myanmar.

Late last year, the city kicked off the construction of Lien Chieu port over 450ha, encompassing eight container terminals accessible to 200,000DWT vessels; six general ports accessible to 100,000DWT vessels; and six liquefied gas terminals and an inland port system.