[REVISION HISTORY]

Vietnam water and waterway infrastructure development

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2026-10-04 09:11 UTC → 2026-10-08 05:20 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. ~~Funding for these efforts may involve public-private partnership mechanisms.~~ By mid-September, focus expanded to ~~the transformation of~~ 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 late September 2026, industry leaders at the VII Regional Logistics Forum proposed specific targets to optimize the logistics sector by shifting container transport from roads to waterway and maritime routes. Currently, approximately 98% of container volume relies on road transport, contributing to logistics costs estimated at 17% of GDP. Experts proposed increasing container connectivity via inland waterways and sea routes to 20% by 2030. By 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.

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