Relationship between the developments of sea-ports and the economic developments in their Hinterlands: A case study of North Vietnam

The trend in the development of ports is taking place at a global scale, the actual development process varies from one country to another. Local and country-specific factors such as the development level, strategic geo-economic position, nature of exports and imports, regulatory environment and competition can impact on the development of ports and the port network, which then affect supply chain operation and efficiency. This study seeks to analyse the effect of sea-port hinterland development in the context of Vietnam as a transitional economy and its impact on multimodal transport and supply chains. The analysis is based on a case study of sea-ports in North Vietnam that has recently undergone rapid extensions and the development of dry ports in their hinterlands. An econometric and qualitative analysis of the development of seaports and dry ports in Vietnam is conducted. The result shows that Vietnam’s strategic position, economic growth and intensive participation in international trade have created significant opportunities for the development of its sea ports hinterland. Based on the result of analysis, the implications for transport and logistics management and policy makers are discussed.