DECISION

Decision No. 2190/QD-TTg of December 24, 2009, approving the master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2020, with orientations toward 2030

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;

Considering the proposal of the Ministry of Transport (Report No. 5213/TTr-BGTVT of July 30, 2009) on the master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2020, with orientations toward 2030,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2020, with orientations toward 2030, with the following principal contents:

1. Development viewpoints and objectives

a) Development viewpoints

- To make the best of the advantaged geographical position and natural conditions for comprehensively developing the seaport system, making a breakthrough to modernization, quickly integrating with regional countries that have an advanced seaport sector, with a view to materializing the objectives of Vietnam’s marine strategy through 2020, gradually developing maritime economy into a top spearhead in the five areas of marine economy and concurrently contributing to strengthening national security and defense;

- To reasonably develop national general ports, specialized ports and local ports, ensuring uniformity in the entire system. To attach importance to developing deepwater ports in all the northern, central and southern regions, creating open, big gateways to the open sea which are attractive to and influential on the neighboring countries; to incrementally consolidate, upgrade and expand other ports; to lay emphasis on maintenance work to ensure coordinated and effective operation of ports;

- To develop in a coordinated manner seaports and port-related infrastructure facilities, seaport infrastructure and public infrastructure connected to seaports. To attach special importance to the interconnectivity between seaports and national transport networks and core logistics centers in the region.

- To strongly develop seawards so as to quickly approach the open sea, reduce difficulties in port fairways; to contribute to creating a driving force for developing coastal economic, industrial and urban zones.

- To mobilize all domestic and foreign resources for seaport development. To promote the socialization of development investment in seaport infrastructure facilities, including not only piers but also public infrastructure connected to  seaports (fairways, breakwaters, sand shelters, roads and electricity and water systems, etc.);

- To closely combine seaport development with management of environmental protection to ensure sustainable development and meet requirements of assurance of security and defense.

b) Development objectives and orientations:

- Overall objectives:

To develop the seaport system under an overall and uniform planning nationwide in order to meet the requirements of national industrialization and modernization; to create technical and material bases for quickly realizing our country’s integration and competition in seaport operations with other countries in the region and the world, affirming the country’s position and advantages in marine economy; at the same time to contribute to assuring national security and defense. To form important core centers for international economic exchange as a driving force for developing coastal economic, urban and industrial zones.

- Specific objectives:

+ To ensure the throughput of all imports and exports and the exchange between different regions in the country by sea to meet the country’s socio-economic development requirements. The throughput of goods through the entire seaport system at different points of time under the master plan is projected as follows:

* Between 500 and 600 million tons/year by 2015;

* Between 900 and 1,100 million tons/year by 2020;

* Between 1,600 and 2,100 million tons/year by 2030.

+ To concentrate on building several deepwater ports up to international standards for large-tonnage ships, particularly Van Phong international transshipment port, Khanh Hoa, to receive container ships of between 9,000 and 15,000 TEU or bigger, oil tankers of between 300,000 and 400,000 DWT; international gateway ports in Hai Phong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau to receive ships of between 80,000 and 100,000 DWT and container ships of between 4,000 and  8,000 TEU, and in other key economic regions when conditions permit; specialized ports for petrochemical refinery and metallurgy complexes and coal-fueled thermal electric centers (to receive ships of between 100,000 and 300,000 DWT or bigger). To attach importance to renovating and upgrading existing key regional ports; to build some selected local ports with functions and sizes conforming with socio-economic development requirements and capital raising capability;

+ To develop in island districts wharves of sizes conforming with their natural and socio-economic conditions to transport cargo and passengers in service of socio-economic development, security and defense;

+ To upgrade and develop in depth loading and unloading and management equipment and technological chains to quickly replace obsolete ones and improve service quality and increase competitiveness in the international integration in seaports;

+ To study and combine improvement with renovation and upgrading of port fairways in order to ensure convenient and safe navigation of large-tonnage ships, corresponding to the sizes of piers and suitable to the functions of ports.

2. Contents of the master plan

a) By regional territory, the seaport system of Vietnam by 2020 with orientations toward 2030 will consist of 6 groups:

- Group 1: The group of seaports in Northern Vietnam, including those from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh;

- Group 2: The group of seaports in northern Central Vietnam, including those from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh;

 - Group 3: The group of seaports  in central Central Vietnam, including those from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai;

- Group 4: The group of seaports in southern Central Vietnam, including those from Binh Dinh to Binh Thuan;

- Group 5: The group of seaports in eastern Southern Vietnam (including also Con Dao and along Soai Rap river in Long An and Tien Giang);

- Group 6: The group of Mekong River delta seaports (including also Phu Quoc and southwestern islands).

b) By size, functions and tasks, the seaport system of Vietnam can be divided into the following types:

- National general ports, which are major ports in Vietnam’s seaport system, including:

+ International transshipment port: Van Phong-Khanh Hoa;

+ International gateway ports: Hai Phong and Ba Ria- Vung Tau;

+ Key regional ports: Hon Gai-Quang Ninh, Nghi Son-Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Son Duong, Vung Ang-Ha Tinh, Dung Quat-Quang Ngai, Quy Nhon-Binh Dinh, Nha Trang, Ba Ngoi-Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Can Tho.

- Local ports of an attractive size and functioning to operate mainly within localities (provinces, cities).

- Specialized ports: To directly serve concentrated industrial establishments and certain particular commodities (crude oil, oil products, coal ore, cement, clinker, passengers, etc.) and constitute part of industrial establishments which they serve. Particularly for ports specializing in receiving and delivering imported coal for thermal electricity generation, a common key port will be arranged for each cluster of thermal electricity plants in each regional territory.

In each port there may be many wharf areas each possibly having many wharves with more than one pier of different utilities and sizes complementing one another. In a specialized port there may be general cargo loading and unloading wharves with the main function of exclusively serving industrial establishments.

Potential ports identified in the master plan will be developed when there are investment demand and capability, mainly in the subsequent period of the master plan; appropriate land areas should be allocated for developing these ports according to set econ-technical factors to ensure future investment effectiveness.

c) Functions and development scope of each group of ports:

- Group of ports in Northern Vietnam (group 1):

The port throughput is expected to reach between 86 and 90 million tons/year (by 2015); between 118 and 163 million tons/year (by 2020); and between 242 and 313 million tons)year (by 2030).

+ Major ports in the group:

. Hai Phong: a national general port and an international gateway (grade IA), with the following functional zones:

Lach Huyen: a major wharf area of the port, mainly for handling general, containerized cargo imported and exported along long-distance shipping routes by ships of between 50,000 and 80,000 DWT or between 4,000 and 6,000 TEU.

Dinh Vu: Mainly for handling general, containerized cargo transported along short-distance shipping routes, having a specialized wharf for ships of between 20,000 and 30,000 DWT (reduced load).

. Hon Gai port, Quang Ninh: a national general port and key regional port (grade I), covering:

Cai Lan: a major wharf area of the port, mainly for handling general, containerized cargo for ships of 50,000 DWT or 3,000 TEU.

+ Specialized and local wharves in the group:

Some specialized wharves operating as satellites of major ports, such as oil product wharf; cement wharf; coal wharf for thermal electricity generation; Hon Gai passenger wharf (completely built for passengers aboard international tourist ships of up to 100,000 GRT); specialized wharf to directly serve economic and industrial zones in the group.

A detailed list of the sizes and functions of each port in the group of northern seaports from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh (group I) is provided in an appendix to this Decision and in Report No. 5213/TTr-BGTVT of July 30, 2009, of the Ministry of Transport.

- Group of northern Central Vietnam ports (group 2):

The port throughput is expected to reach between 69 and 80 million tons/year (2015); between 132 and 152 million tons)year (2020); and between 212 and 248 million tons/year (2030);

+ Major ports in the group:       

. Nghi Son-Thanh Hoa: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Northern Nghi Son, a specialized wharf area for ships of between 10,000 and 30,000 DWT to serve the petro-chemical refinery and cement complex.

Southern Nghi Son, a wharf area for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT, with a specialized wharf.

. Nghe An: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Cua Lo, a specialized wharf area, mainly for handling general cargo for ships of between 10,000 and 20,000 DWT. To study the possibility of building in northern and southern Cua Lo wharves for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT, taking into account development requirements and process of the economic zone.

. Son Duong, Vung Ang- Ha Tinh, specialized port, national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following wharf areas:

Son Duong, a specialized wharf area for ships of between 200,000 and 300,000 DWT, with a general wharf for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT to serve the metallurgical and petrochemical complex and other heavy industries.

Vung Ang, a general wharf area for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT, with a specialized wharf to serve the import of coal for thermal electricity generation and liquid products of general petroleum depots.

+ Some specialized wharves as satellites of major ports, such as oil product port; cement port; coal port for thermal electricity plants;

A detailed list of the sizes and functions of each port in the group of northern Central Vietnam seaports from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh (group 2) is provided in an appendix to this Decision and in Report No. 5213/TTr-BGTVT of July 30, 2009, of the Ministry of Transport.

- Group of central Central Vietnam ports (group 3):

The port throughput is expected to reach between 41 and 46 million tons/year (2015); between 81 and 104 million tons/year (2020); and between 154 and 205 million tons/year (2030);

+ Major ports in the group:

- Da Nang: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), to be possibly developed in the long term to assume the role of an international gateway port in Central Vietnam, covering the following functional wharf areas:

Tien Sa, Son Tra, a major wharf area for handling general cargo for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT and container ships of 4,000 TEU; with a wharf for international tourist ships of up to 100,000 GRT.

In the immediate future, Lien Chieu will be a specialized port for ships of between 10,000 and 30,000 DWT and be incrementally developed in the future to assume the role of a major wharf area of Da Nang international gateway port for ships of between 50,000 and 80,000 DWT or between 4,000 and 6,000 TEU.

- Dung Quat-Quang Ngai: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering Dung Quat I (currently in Dung Quat bay) and Dung Quat II (to be developed in My Han bay), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Dung Quat I, a major wharf area with a general and containerized cargo wharf for ships of between 10,000 and 50,000 DWT, a specialized port for exporting products of the petrochemical refining complex by ships of between 10,000 and  30,000 DWT and of heavy industrial establishments by ships of between 20,000 and 70,000 DWT.

Dung Quat II is a wharf area of potential development, mainly used for ships of between 100,000 and 350,000 DWT, with a general wharf for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT.

+ Some specialized wharves as satellites of major ports, such as passenger ship wharf; cement wharf; coal wharf for thermal electricity plants;

A detailed list of the sizes and functions of each port in the group of central Central Vietnam seaports from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai (group 3) is provided in an appendix to this Decision and in Report No. 5213/TTr-BGTVT of July 30, 2009, of the Ministry of Transport.

- Group of southern Central Vietnam ports (group 4):

The port throughput is expected to reach between 63 and 100 million tons/year (2015); between 142 and 202 million tons/year (2020); and between 271 and 384 million tons/year (2030);

+ Major ports in the group:

- Quy Nhon-Binh Dinh: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Quy Nhon, Thi Nai, a major wharf area for ships of between 10,000 and 30,000 DWT and handling general cargo, with a specialized wharf for ships of between 5,000 and 7,000 DWT.

Nhon Hoi is a wharf area for development in the subsequent period, for ships of between 20,000 and 50,000 DWT, mainly for handling special-use cargo, with a general  wharf to serve the industrial park.

. Van Phong-Khanh Hoa: a national general port, international transshipment port (grade IA), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Dam Mon is a container wharf area for ships of between 9,000 and 15,000 TEU or larger, a key point for the transshipment of imported and exported containers along oceanic routes of Vietnam and neighboring countries.

Southern Van Phong is an oil and oil product transshipment wharf area, also functioning as a specialized wharf for the petrochemical refinery, for receiving ships of up to 400,000 DWT.

Southwestern Van Phong (Ninh Thuy, Doc Let, Hon Khoi) is a specialized wharf area for thermal electricity generation and other industries, for ships of between 50,000 and 100,000 DWT.

. Nha Trang, Ba Ngoi- Khanh Hoa: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Ba Ngoi, a major wharf area for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT for handling general and containerized cargo, with a specialized wharf for thermal electricity generation.

Nha Trang will be incrementally converted into a key port for marine tourism to receive international tourist ships of up to 100,000 GRT.

+ Some specialized wharves as satellites of major ports, such as mineral wharf; coal wharf for thermal electricity plants; a wharf for heavy industrial parks such as metallurgical ones; particularly, to study the development of a port in Ninh Phuoc, Ninh Hai (Ninh Thuan) to serve nuclear power plants in the future;

A detailed list of the sizes and functions of each port in the group of southern Central Vietnam seaports from Binh Dinh to Binh Thuan (group 4) is provided in an appendix to this Decision and in Report No. 5213/TTr-BGTVT of July 30, 2009, of the Ministry of Transport.

- Group of eastern South Vietnam ports (group 5):

The port throughput is expected to reach between 185 and 200 million tons/year (2015); between 265 and 305 million tons)year (2020); and between 495 and 650 million tons)year (2030).

+ Major ports in the group:

- Vung Tau-Ba Ria Vung Tau: a national general port, international gateway port (grade IA), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Cai Mep, Sao Mai-Ben Dinh, a major wharf area of the port, mainly for handling containerized imports and exports along long-distance shipping routes by ships of between 80,000 and 100,000 DWT or between 6,000 and 8,000 TEU.

Phu My, My Xuan, mainly for handling containerized general cargo for ships of between 50,000 and 80,000 DWT or between 4,000 and 6,000 TEU; with several specialized wharves to serve riverside industrial and service establishments.

Long Son with the main function of exclusively serving the petrochemical refining complex, with a wharf for imported crude oil for ships of 300,000 DWT, a wharf for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT for other imported raw materials and exported products. The southeastern side will be reserved for building a wharf for handling general cargo to serve the long-term regional development.

A passenger wharf in Sao Mai-Ben Dinh, the key in receiving international tourist ships of up to 100,000 GRT for the entire region.

. Ho Chi Minh City: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Hiep Phuoc (on Soai Rap river), a major wharf area of the port, mainly handling containerized general cargo for ships of 50,000 DWT and 4,000 TEU; and several specialized wharves for ships of between 20,000 and 30,000 DWT to directly serve industrial establishments.

Cat Lai (on Dong Nai river), a major wharf area of the port in the immediate time, for ships of between 20,000 and 30,000 DWT.

Wharves along Sai Gon and Nha Be rivers: To be relocated and converted in utility under Decision No. 791)QD-TTg of August 12, 2005; to renovate and upgrade (without expanding) wharves along Nha Be river to receive ships of up to 30,000 DWT. To build a new passenger wharf for ships of 50,000 GRT in Phu Thuan (downstream Phu My bridge); to convert part of Khanh Hoi wharf into a domestic passenger wharf and maritime service center.

. Dong Nai: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Phuoc An, Go Dau (on Thi Vai river), a major wharf area of the port, mainly for handling general and containerized cargo of ships of 60,000 DWT (Phuoc An) and 30,000 DWT (Go Dau), and several specialized wharves of riverside industrial establishments.

Phu Huu, Nhon Trach (on Dong Nai, Nha Be, Long Tau rivers), a specialized wharf area, with several general wharves for ships of between 10,000 and 30,000 DWT.

+ Some specialized wharves as satellites of major ports, such as specialized wharves for passenger ships and cargo ships of between 5,000 and 10,000 tons, on Con Dao; small general ports as satellites on branches of Soai Rap, Long Tau, Dong Nai rivers.

A detailed list of the sizes and functions of each port in the group of eastern South Vietnam seaports (group 5) also covers ports along Soai Rap river in Long An and Tien Giang is provided in an appendix to this Decision and in Report No. 5213/TTr-BGTVT of July 30, 2009, of the Ministry of Transport.

- Group of Mekong River delta seaports (group 6):

The port throughput is expected to reach between 54 and 74 million tons/year (2015); between 132 and 156 million tons/year (2020); and between 206 and 300 million tons/year (2030);

+ Major ports in the group:

- Can Tho-Can Tho city: a national general port, key regional port (grade I), covering the following functional wharf areas:

Cai Cui, a major wharf area of the port, mainly for handling general cargo of ships of between 10,000 and 20,000 DWT, with a specialized wharf of riverside industrial establishments.

Hoang Dieu, Binh Thuy: To consolidate and upgrade without developing existing general ports; to rearrange, renovate and relocate specialized wharves. To receive ships of up to 10,000 DWT.

Tra Noc, O Mon: a specialized wharf area of riverside industrial-service establishments, with a general wharf in support of Hoang Dieu wharf area to serve the industrial park. To receive ships of between 5,000 and 10,000 DWT.

On Phu Quoc: a wharf area in An Thoi, Dam bay, for ships of between 2,000 and 3,000 DWT, and a wharf area in Dat Do cape for international tourist ships of between 80,000 and 100,000 GRT.

+ Local general ports (grade II) along Tien, Hau and Cai Lon (Ca Mau) rivers and the west coast. These ports will mainly operate as local general ports, having specialized wharves to serve riverside industrial and service establishments, operating as satellites of the general wharf area. The size and extent of development of these ports will depend on market demand and capability of renovating and upgrading port fairways.

Specialized ports for the importation of coal for thermal electricity plants, including a key offshore transshipment port for ships of between 100,000 and 200,000 DWT and wharves at the plants for small ships.

The eastern Mekong River delta area: Coal will be received in the Hau river estuary area (in Tra Vinh or Soc Trang); wharves of the plants in Duyen Hai-Tra Vinh, Long Phu-Soc Trang, Chau Thanh-Hau Giang; and a reserve coal wharf in Kim Son-Tra Vinh.

The western Mekong River delta area: Coal will be transshipped in Nam Du archipelago; and a wharf of the plants in Kien Luong-Kien Giang.

+ Potential ports for large seagoing ships offshore the Hau river estuary: To continue studying the possibility of building a port for large seagoing ships (beyond the capability of upgrading and renovating the river estuary fairway) for handling cargo imported and exported directly for the Mekong river delta. The expected location is offshore Soc Trang to facilitate the import and export of cargo for Ca Mau peninsula.

A detailed list of the sizes and functions of each port in the group of Mekong River delta seaports (group 6) is provided in an appendix to this Decision and in Report No. 5213/TTr-BGTVT of July 30, 2009, of the Ministry of Transport.

d) The oriented scope of renovation and upgrading of fairways:

The main fairways to be firstly renovated and upgraded include:

- Access fairways of Hai Phong port: the sections to Lach Huyen wharf area for ships of 80,000 DWT, 6,000 TEU; to Chanh river wharf area, Yen Hung, for ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT; to Dinh Vu wharf area for ships of between 20,000 and 30,000 DWT; and to Cam river wharf area for ships of 10,000 DWT.

- Access fairways of Vung Tau port and Thi Vai river: the sections to Sao Mai-Ben Dinh wharf area for ships of 100,000 DWT or 8,000 TEU; to Cai Mep wharf area for ships of 80,000 DWT or 6,000 TEU; to Phu My, Phuoc An and My Xuan wharf areas for ships of 60,000 DWT or 4,000 TEU; and to Go Dau wharf area for ships of 30,000 DWT.

- Access fairways of Ho Chi Minh City port along Soai Rap river for ships of 50,000 DWT or 4,000 TEU.

- Access fairways of Can Tho port and ports along Hau river for ships of between 10,000 and 20,000 DWT (through Quan Chanh Bo canal) and ships of between 30,000 and 50,000 DWT (through Dinh An estuary).     

Other fairways will be regularly dredged and repaired and gradually renovated and upgraded to suit the sizes and utilities of the ports identified in the master plan.

e) Priority investment projects from now to 2015:

- For general ports: the period of commencing investment in Van Phong international transshipment port; Lach Huyen wharf area, Hai Phong international gateway port; Cai Mep wharf area, Phu My, Vung Tau international gateway port; Hiep Phuoc wharf area, Ho Chi Minh City port; and Cai Cui wharf area, Can Tho port;

- For specialized ports: The wharf area of Nghi Son petrochemical oil refinery complex, Thanh Hoa, Long Son-Ba Ria Vung Tau; Ke Ga metallurgical complex, Binh Thuan, key ports for receiving coal to serve thermal electricity centers in Nghi Son-Thanh Hoa, Vung Ang-Ha Tinh, Vinh Tan-Binh Thuan and eastern and western Mekong River delta.

- For access fairways: Hai Phong fairway; Cai Mep-Thi Vai to Vung Tau and Dong Nai ports; Soai Rap to Ho Chi Minh City port; access fairways of Hau river ports.

f) The need for seaport development investment capital:

The total fund for investment in the development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2020 is estimated to reach between VND 360 and 440 trillion, including:

- Between VND 70 and 100 trillion for public infrastructure of seaports.

- Between VND 290 and 340 trillion for wharf infrastructure facilities.

g) To promulgate together with this Decision a list of seaports in the master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2020.

3. Major solutions and policies

- To mobilize to the utmost all domestic and foreign resources for seaport development. To increase investment promotion, encourage and create favorable conditions for organizations and enterprises of all economic sectors to invest in seaport development in various forms as prescribed by law; to lay emphasis on applying the form of public-private partnership to developing new large ports and wharf areas;

- To concentrate budget funds on investing in public infrastructure facilities connected to seaports (sand-sheltering breakwaters, dredging and construction of structures to stabilize fairways and trunk roads linking national roads). To invest capital lawfully raised from enterprises mainly in wharf infrastructure facilities. To apply the mechanism of leasing infrastructure to wharves built with budget funds;

- To continue studying the mechanism of management after the model of port administration, experiment the application thereof to several ports with favorable conditions in order to incrementally improve legal bases for coordinated application nationwide;

- To further promote administrative procedure reform, creating an open environment for attracting investment in the development and commercial operation of seaports in line with the process of integration and international practices;

- To intensify state management in the process of implementing the master plan on development of seaports, paying attention to integrating with the master plan on development of the transport network (roads, railways, airways and inland waterways), the master plan on construction and general socio-economic development plans of localities and territories where exist ports;

- To reserve appropriate land funds behind ports for building goods distribution and logistics service centers in key regional ports and international gateway ports in order to increase the operational capacity and effectiveness of these ports as well as regional transport networks.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Transport:

- To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries, branches and provincial-level People’s Committees in, organizing the implementation of this master plan in close combination with the implementation of the Party Central Committee’s Resolution on Vietnam’s marine strategy through 2020. To periodically examine and evaluate the implementation of the master plan;

- On the basis of the master plan, to elaborate and approve a detailed plan on development of seaport groups through 2020, with orientations toward 2030; to direct and guide state business groups and corporations and enterprises operating in the seaport sector to implement development plans in line with the approved master plan; at the same time put forward necessary solutions to effectively implementing the master plan to competent authorities for decision;

- To early complete a strategic environmental impact assessment report and submit it for approval according to regulations;

- To review, revise and incrementally perfect the system of legal documents concerning the management of investment and operation of seaport infrastructure to suit Vietnam’s development situation and trend;

- To direct the Vietnam National Shipping Lines in coordinating with concerned agencies in creating a mechanism for managing and developing Van Phong international transshipment port, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

2. Concerned ministries, branches and provincial-level People’s Committees shall, according to their respective functions, tasks and powers, coordinate with the Ministry of Transport in performing the target tasks of the master plan, ensuring uniformity and synchrony with sectoral and local socio-economic development.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing. It replaces the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 202/1999/QD-TTg of October 12, 1999, approving the master plan on the development of Vietnam’s seaport system through 2010.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of the People’s Committees of concerned provinces and centrally run cities shall implement this Decision.