Major General Nguyễn Hữu Ngọc, Commander of the 12th Army Corps, presented the implementation of key projects on Hòn Khoai Island (Cà Mau) to Party General Secretary Tô Lâm during his visit on November 19. — VNA/VNS Photo Chanh Đa

CÀ MAU — Party General Secretary Tô Lâm on Wednesday led a Party Central Committee delegation to visit Hòn Khoai island in Đất Mũi Commune, the southernmost province of Cà Mau, where he held a working session with military units, Party Organisation and administration of the province.

Hòn Khoai is the largest among five islands in Hòn Khoai cluster, with its peak reaching 318m above the sea. It is characterised by rocky terrain, freshwater resources and a diverse ecosystem.

According to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyễn Hồ Hải, the province is preparing a master plan linking Hòn Khoai with Hon Chuối, Hòn Đá Bạc and nearby areas, and studying a roughly 1,000-hectare logistics zone to operate in tandem with the proposed dual-purpose Hòn Khoai General Port. The province expects to finalise the plan and submit it to the Ministry of Finance in 2025.

Cà Mau is also working closely with the Ministry of National Defence to implement Military Region 9’s Southwest Sea and Island Economic–Defence Zone project, while addressing arising matters to accelerate the Cà Mau–Đất Mũ expressway project, said Hải.

For the road to Hòn Khoai, Cà Mau has completed measurements, inventories and compensation plans, and is finalising procedures for land and forest-use conversions. Site clearance for the Hon Khoai dual-purpose port has also been completed, the official reported.

After inspecting both the road and port projects, General Secretary Lâm commended Cà Mau’s political determination and organisational capability.

He said the road and port will form a coherent infrastructure system enabling Cà Mau to capitalise on its maritime advantages and setting out a new vision for the development of Việt Nam's southernmost continental area.

From a defence perspective, he noted, the works will strengthen control over the southwestern seas and enhance search-and-rescue capacity. Economically, Hòn Khoai will serve as a gateway for the Mekong Delta, lowering logistics costs, reducing pressure on ports in HCM City and the southeastern region, enabling direct exports via international routes, and opening new development space. This will support high-quality logistics, processing industries and the formation of a new international gateway, he said.

He asked Cà Mau to effectively implement the resolution of the provincial Party Congress for 2025–2030, with a focus on transport infrastructure, regional connectivity and marine–island economic development.

Giving guidelines on Hòn Khoai development, the Party chief requested rapid completion of the development plan for the Hòn Khoai island cluster, ensuring both economic strength and firm defence capacity. The leader emphasised the need for proper zoning of military, dual-use, economic and ecological areas, with synchronous investment in energy, transport, telecommunications, military structures, deep-water ports and storm shelters, while upholding socio-economic effectiveness, environmental protection and sustainable development.

He described the road and port as strategic frontline projects of great socio-economic and defence significance and urged close coordination among ministries, localities and contractors. He called for maximum mobilisation of resources to ensure timely, high-quality, technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable construction.

Stressing that Hòn Khoai is more than a project – it symbolised a national commitment and the aspirations of a self-resilient Việt Nam, he urged officers and soldiers to uphold the spirit of Uncle Hồ's soldiers and surpass all targets despite difficulties and challenges. — VNA/VNS