Can Tho city is concentrating on constructing Cai Cui seaport, the largest-ever in the Mekong Delta, which is able to handle ships weighing up to 20,000 tonnes once completed.

Cai Cui Port, Can Tho City.

The seaport cost around 1.2 trillion VND (57.1 million USD), constituting the largest part of the 1.5 trillion VND (71.4 million USD) sum Can Tho has poured into river and seaport upgrade between 2012 and 2014 to meet the rapidly growing demand for maritime transportation.

It is designed to house three wharves stretching 500m in length and a logistics area covering 37ha that enable it to process 2.3-2.5 million tonnes of cargo per year, said Director of the municipal Transport Department Lu Thanh Dong.

As a major part of the Can Tho port complex, Cai Cui port will also serve the needs of the southern provinces of An Giang, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.

Meanwhile, Can Tho port on the Hau river has its land area expanded from 3 to 6 hectares and its container warehouse enlarged from 5,000 sq. m to 9,000 sq.m.

Tra Noc port also on the Hau river has its infrastructure strengthened, making it able to accommodate ships of 5,000-6,500 tonnes and transport 400,000 tonnes of freight each year.

According to the department, local ports have handled 900,000 tonnes of cargo since the beginning of this year, up 25 percent year-on-year, and nearly 30 percent of the unloaded goods were from foreign ships.

VNA/VNN