Decision No. 1037IQD-TTg approving the adjusted master plan on development of Vietnam's seaport system through 2020, with orientations toward 2030.

The Decision approves the adjusted master plan on development of Vietnam's seaport system through 2020, with orientations toward 2030, with the following major principles: 1. Development viewpoints: a) To take advantage of geographical position and natural conditions for the comprehensive development of the seaport system, making a breakthrough into modernity and fast integration into the region's advanced nations in the seaport field, thus making contributions to fulfilling the targets of Vietnam's sea strategy to 2020; to gradually tum the maritime economy into the leading spearhead of the marine economic fields in association with national defense and security assurance; b) To rationally develop national and local multi-purpose ports and specialized ports to ensure the unity of the whole system; to attach importance to developing ports that are capable of receiving seagoing vessels with a capacity of up to 100,000 DWT or more in all northern, central and southern regions; to gradually upgrade and expand other ports; to attach importance to maintenance work to ensure synchronous and efficient exploitation of the seaport system; c) To ensure synchronous development between seaports and the network of facilities situated behind ports, between seaport facilities and public facilities. To attach special importance to ensuring the uninterrupted connection between seaports, the national traffic network and the system of inland container depots, goods distribution centers and the region's logistics hub; d) To develop in the seaward direction for fast access to offshore sea areas, remove difficulties and hindrances to vessels to enter the ports; to create an impetus for the development of coastal economic zones and industrial-urban centers; dd) To closely combine seaport development with the management of environmental protection to ensure sustainable development in association with national defense and security assurance.
The general objectives of the master plan are: To develop a unified national seaport system in accordance with the master plan in order to satisfy the requirements of national industrialization and modernization; to build technical infrastructure facilities for the country to integrate itself and raise its competitiveness in seaport activities compared with other nations in the region and the world, thus affirming the position and advantage of marine economy and concurrently contributing to national defense and security assurance. To form important hubs of economic exchange with foreign countries to develop coastal economic, urban and industrial zones.