Ho Chi Minh City Backs Port Cooperation Forum

Ho Chi Minh City has used the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue, held from 10 to 12 September in Vung Tau Ward, to advance proposals for stronger local diplomacy and port cooperation. The city, which has expanded to more than 6,770 square kilometres and over 14 million people following its merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, presented the dialogue as a platform for attracting technology, talent and investment. Participants supported studying a city-level multilateral cooperation mechanism for seaports. The initiative would create a regular forum for data sharing, port coordination, supply-chain connections and sustainability standards.

Dialogue Focuses On Local Diplomacy

Held under the theme “City Diplomacy: A Driving Force for Innovation and Sustainable Development,” the Friendship Dialogue brought together leaders from foreign localities and international organisations to discuss international integration and local diplomatic activity.

At the Mayors’ Conference, participants considered ways to use local diplomacy to attract technological resources and talent, support a modern urban ecosystem and encourage sustainable growth. The discussions also covered research and development investment, commercialisation of innovation outcomes, port cooperation and the role of local governments.

Expanded Development Space

Since 1 July 2025, Ho Chi Minh City’s merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau has combined a financial, commercial, services, science and technology hub with a high-tech industrial manufacturing base, deep-water ports, marine industries, energy activities and coastal tourism.

The release cited the Law on Urban Development, adopted by the National Assembly on 24 August 2026, and Politburo Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW of 19 May 2026 as part of the framework for the enlarged city. The resolution sets targets for GRDP per capita of US$14,000 by 2030 and US$75,000 by 2045.

Ho Chi Minh City maintains friendship and cooperation links with 88 foreign localities and nearly 20 international organisations and partners. It also has more than 20,000 active foreign direct investment projects. In the first six months of 2026, its economy reached nearly US$60 billion, contributing nearly 25% of national GDP and more than 30% of total state budget revenue.

Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue.

Ports And Industrial Capacity

The Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster is described as southern Viet Nam’s largest deep-water seaport complex and ranks 19th globally in its capacity to accommodate mainline vessels. Its average depth of 14 metres enables it to receive vessels of up to 250,000 DWT.

Phu My 3 Specialized Industrial Park, developed as a cooperation model between the Governments of Viet Nam and Japan, is being built around ecological and industrial-symbiosis principles. The city said the development meets ESG and sustainable-development standards.

A Platform For International Connections

The proposed multilateral port mechanism would provide participating cities and ports with a route to exchange experience, share data, broaden markets and coordinate supply chains. For Ho Chi Minh City, the dialogue also offers a channel to connect its urban core with international financial centres, support industrial investment and link the Vung Tau marine economic area with global logistics chains.

The programme positions local diplomacy as a practical part of the city’s wider development agenda, pairing its enlarged geography and infrastructure with international relationships and investment opportunities.