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5 clusters · 16 sources · 34 days · First seen · Last updated

Vietnam water and waterway infrastructure development

Overview

Vietnam is pursuing large-scale environmental and infrastructure initiatives focused on its water systems and inland waterways. In early September, the government announced a pilot project to restore the degraded Bac Hung Hai, Nhue - Day, and Ngu Huyen Khe river systems. Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, the plan aims to restore surface water through gravity-based solutions and divert water from the Red, Duong, and Da rivers. The project also targets pollution control, seeking to ensure 100% of industrial zones have compliant wastewater treatment and 70% of urban domestic wastewater is treated by 2035.

By mid-September, focus expanded to transforming the inland waterway network into a green and smart transport system. Strategic goals for 2035 aim to increase the role of waterways, railways, and coastal shipping to reduce reliance on road transport. Projections suggest inland waterway freight transport could reach a market share of between 25.5% and 26.3% of total cargo turnover by 2035.

In early October 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung emphasized shifting logistics development from administrative boundaries to economic corridors and supply chains. While the industry grows at 14–16% annually, road transport remains a primary bottleneck, handling 70–85% of goods and generating 85% of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. To mitigate this, officials highlighted that a 96 TEU barge consumes approximately 10 liters of fuel per 20-foot container, compared to 45 liters for a road tractor, representing an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions.

Regional water infrastructure efforts have also progressed. In Dong Nai, authorities aim for 85% of rural households to have access to standard clean water by 2030. In Khanh Hoa, a 232 billion VND project was approved to upgrade the Nha Trang wastewater treatment system between 2026 and 2028, aiming to prevent domestic wastewater from discharging directly into the sea and rivers.

Entities

Hồ Quốc Dũng · Ministry of Industry and Trade · Ngu Huyen Khe River · Nhuệ - Đáy River · Nha Trang

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Vietnam advances water infrastructure and wastewater treatment projects

    Vietnam is advancing water infrastructure, with Dong Nai targeting 85% rural clean water access by 2030 and Khanh Hoa investing 232 billion VND to upgrade wastewater systems in Nha Trang.

  2. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Vietnam targets logistics restructuring to reduce costs and emissions

    Vietnam aims to lower high logistics costs and emissions by shifting freight from road to inland waterways and integrating regional economic corridors into global supply chains.

  3. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Vietnam logistics sector targets shift to waterway transport

    Vietnam aims to shift 20% of container transport to waterways by 2030 to reduce road dependency, lower logistics costs, and improve connectivity between industrial hubs and ports.

  4. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Vietnam targets green growth for inland waterway transport

    Vietnam aims to integrate its 17,026 km inland waterway network into a green transport system, targeting a 25.5-26.3% freight market share by 2035 to reduce reliance on road transport.

  5. [INTERNATIONAL] 10 sources
    Vietnam plans restoration of Bac Hung Hai and Nhue - Day river systems

    Vietnam has launched a pilot plan to restore the polluted Bac Hung Hai, Nhue - Day, and Ngu Huyen Khe river systems by 2035, utilizing gravity-based water diversion and private sector investment.

Sources

baochinhphu.vn · baogiaothong.vn · baotintuc.vn · baoxaydung.vn · cafef.vn · doanhnghieptiepthi.vn · genk.vn · mekongasean.vn · nhandan.vn · nnmt.net.vn · phunuvietnam.vn · thanhnien.vn · tienphong.vn · tuoitre.vn · vietnamplus.vn · vtv.vn

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history