Hai Phong Port Advances International Hub Goals as Mega Maersk Ship Arrives

Hai Phong city reinforced its position as a fast‑growing industrial‑logistics centre in northern Vietnam, promoting international cooperation through Vietnam's Honorary Consuls network. Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng led a delegation of ambassadors and honorary consuls to meet city officials, including Chairman Đỗ Thành Trung, to showcase Hai Phong’s recent economic achievements and its ambition to become a modern international gateway with smart, green port and logistics ecosystems.

At the same time, the world’s largest container vessel, the Maersk‑operated Matz Maersk (over 213,000‑214,000 DWT, 399 m long), docked at Lạch Huyện terminal. The arrival highlighted critical infrastructure gaps: the channel width of 160 m is narrower than the 180 m required for a ship of this breadth, and the turning basin radius is insufficient for safe maneuvering. Authorities responded by deploying five high‑capacity tugs, scheduling the entry at high tide, and clearing nearby berths to ensure safe passage, underscoring the urgent need for channel and berth upgrades to accommodate future mega‑ship traffic.