Following its July 2025 merger with Hai Duong province, Hai Phong city has become one of the largest economic hubs in the country, with an expanded development space and direct connectivity between industrial and agricultural production regions, and urban areas in the west with the seaport and logistics system in the east.
The free trade zone will be developed as a modern integrated complex combining manufacturing, logistics, trade, services, innovation and the digital economy.
The conference also highlighted the role of digital technologies in building next-generation FTZs. Proposed solutions included the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing and digital customs systems to improve operational efficiency, streamline logistics, accelerate customs procedures and enhance transparency for investors.
During a working session with the Hai Phong Party Committee on March 16, Party General Secretary To Lam urged the northern city to sustain high, long-term growth closely tied to modernisation, green transition, digitalisation, and better life quality.
The 18th Hanoi Party Congress, Hai Phong's establishment of a free trade zone, and Apple's selection of Vietnam as the main production base for an entirely new product category are among news highlights on October 16.
Spanning roughly 6,292 ha across non-contiguous sites tied to the Dinh Vu - Cat Hai Economic Zone (EZ) and the Southern Hai Phong coastal economic zone, Hai Phong's FTZ will feature designated areas for production, port and logistics operations, logistics centres, trade, services, and others.
The sector has also become increasingly attractive to investors, with major projects like Cai Mep – Thi Vai, Lien Chieu, Lach Huyen, and other regions grabbing strong interest from both domestic and foreign investors, underscoring the seaport system's appeal.
The central city of Da Nang is zoning off land areas, building infrastructure, proposing policies, and actively seeking strategic investors to soon put its Free Trade Zone (FTZ) into operation.
The proposed Dong Nai FTZ will cover more than 8,200 hectares across seven sites connected with Long Thanh International Airport and Phuoc An Port. It will consist of four functional zones, namely a high-tech industrial production area, a logistics hub, a financial and commercial services centre, and an innovation cluster.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh has signed a decision to establish the Da Nang Free Trade Zone (FTZ), which will be connected to main infrastructure facilities, opening up new development opportunities for the central coastal city.
The Da Nang Free Trade Zone, which will cover more than 2,300ha with key function sites for manufacturing, a logistics centre and trade and services, would need an investment of 40 trillion VNA (1.6 billion USD).
Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung pledged favourable conditions for UAE businesses to explore cooperation opportunities in Vietnam, expressing his hope that the two sides will soon reach consensus on large-scaled investment projects in the near future.
The central city of Da Nang is actively collaborating with central ministries and agencies to swiftly implement specific mechanisms and policies for the city’s development under the National Assembly's Resolution 136/2024/QH15, particularly regarding the pilot establishment of a free trade zone (FTZ).
Lao Cai has proposed the pilot of a cross-border e-commerce zone or a free trade zone in the northern mountainous province to bridge Vietnam and other ASEAN countries with the Chinese market.
