Politics · Vietnam Bureau
North-central Vietnam pursues maritime hub status with ambitious growth targets
Vietnam's north-central region is accelerating infrastructure development and economic expansion as it seeks to establish itself as a major maritime hub. The region achieved 8.37% gross regional domestic product growth in 2025, contributing 6.47% to national economic expansion.
LSN Vietnam ·
The north-central region is positioning itself as a key economic driver through coordinated investment in transport infrastructure and industrial capacity. Growth drivers across the region are becoming increasingly complementary, with provincial economies contributing specialized strengths to a broader development strategy.
Ha Tinh province led regional momentum with robust industrial and construction sector expansion, growing 24.25% in the first half of 2025. Nghe An province demonstrated comparable momentum, with industrial production index gains of 23.02% and export revenues reaching USD 3.1 billion, representing a 58.4% year-on-year increase.
The regional development strategy encompasses connectivity improvements, with new aviation links connecting Quang Tri to Khanh Hoa in the south-central region. Senior government officials have inspected key transport projects across the region to monitor progress on infrastructure that will support the maritime hub initiative.
Official targets call for the region to achieve 10.5% growth, building on current momentum. The combination of industrial expansion, export growth, and infrastructure investment reflects a multi-pronged approach to establishing the north-central region as a major economic node in Southeast Asia's supply chains.