The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Hòn La International Port in Quảng Bình Province on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG BÌNH — Work started on the construction of the Hòn La International Port in the central province of Quảng Bình on Friday.

With a total investment of nearly VNĐ2.3 trillion (US$90 million) and spanning across over 39 hectares, this is a key project aimed at developing port infrastructure and improving the socio-economic conditions of Quảng Bình and the surrounding region.

The port is designed to serve the Hòn La Economic Zone and industrial zones in the province, and facilitate the transshipment of goods to Laos and northeastern Thailand.

The construction consists of two phases. Phase 1 will be from now until 2026, focusing on building two ports with a total length of 470 meters, capable of receiving general cargo ships of up to 50,000 tonnes and bulk carriers of up to 70,000 tonnes. Their expected capacity is three million tonnes per year.

Phase 2, starting from 2027, involves the construction of two additional ports with a total length of 500 metres, capable of handling ships with a tonnage of up to 100,000 DWT. Their expected capacity is six million tonnes per year.

Speaking at the ceremony, chair of the Quảng Bình Provincial People's Committee Trần Phong said that the Hòn La International General Port will play a key role not only in goods transportation but also in receiving international cruise ships, opening up opportunities to develop maritime tourism and contributing to the province’s sustainable growth.

To ensure the project's progress and quality, Phong requested the investors to fulfill their commitments and implement the project according to the approved investment plan, ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with technical, quality, and legal requirements.

“The project should be completed on time and go into operation as soon as possible,” he said.

During the project’s implementation, investors should work closely with the Hòn La Economic Zone Management Board and local authorities to promptly address any issues that may arise, Phong added.

They should also focus on social welfare and prioritise creating jobs for local people when the project is completed, he said. — VNS