Building Phu Tho into a Regional Logistics Hub for the Northern Midland and Mountainous Area

Located at the gateway connecting the Red River Delta with the Northwestern region and bordering the capital city of Hanoi, Phu Tho Province boasts an increasingly modern and synchronized transport infrastructure, with diverse modes of transportation. Thanks to its strategic location and abundant potential, the province possesses all the necessary conditions to become the logistics hub of the Northern Midland and Mountainous Area—turning logistics into a spearhead economic sector that contributes significantly to the provincial GRDP and plays a key role in both domestic and international goods connectivity.

For the 2026–2030 term, Phu Tho identifies logistics development as one of its strategic pillars to promote economic restructuring, enhance competitiveness, and attract investment. Accordingly, the province focuses on reshaping urban space toward openness, integrating distinctive architectural landscapes, and strengthening connectivity with major cities. The central urban area is being expanded along the Viet Tri – Vinh Yen axis, closely linked with Noi Bai International Airport, the Northern Midland and Mountainous region, the Capital Region, the Red River Delta, and the entire country.

Panoramic view of Vinh Phuc ICD Logistics Center – Vietnam SuperPortTM

The province prioritizes the completion of strategic transportation corridors, particularly the Noi Bai – Viet Tri – Vinh Yen – Hoa Binh route, as a key driver linking Phu Tho with Hanoi, the former industrial center of Vinh Phuc, and the former tourism hub of Hoa Binh. At the same time, expressways such as Noi Bai – Lao Cai and Tuyen Quang – Phu Tho are being accelerated; major national highways including National Routes 2, 6, 32, and the Ho Chi Minh Road continue to be comprehensively upgraded. The Yen Vien – Lao Cai railway line is also planned for dual-track expansion, with Viet Tri Station to be upgraded into the region’s multimodal transport center.

Phu Tho aims to develop modern, high-productivity, and high-quality industries, becoming a major national production hub in sectors such as automobiles and motorcycles, electronics, and high technology. The province focuses on improving competitiveness for key products including electronic components, mechanical engineering, agroforestry processing, pharmaceuticals, and new building materials; while fostering modern, technology-based services to position itself as a regional and national commercial and logistics center.

Leveraging its proximity to Noi Bai International Airport and the gateway to the capital, the province plans to establish four development driving zones. Among these, the Viet Tri – Phu Tho urban zone will serve as a multi-sectoral hub, developing strongly along the Lo River and key expressways and railways—functioning as a Northwestern linkage and a northern gateway city of Hanoi. The Vinh Phuc urban zone is oriented to become a center for modern industrial production, particularly in automobiles, motorcycles, and electronics, while also strengthening commerce, logistics, and innovation. The close connection with Viet Tri will form a continuous industrial–urban complex in the province’s northeast. The Hoa Binh zone, in turn, will focus on becoming a green economy area, developing on the basis of eco-tourism, local culture, and clean energy—serving as a high-end resort center combined with cultural conservation and mountain ecosystem protection.

In parallel, the province develops five major economic corridors associated with these driving zones to promote connectivity and sustainable growth, including: The Northern Economic Corridor (Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh); The Central Corridor along the Ho Chi Minh Road and the Western North–South Expressway connecting Viet Tri, Thanh Thuy, and Hoa Binh; The Eastern Corridor associated with the Capital Region’s Ring Road No. 5 and National Highway 2C, enhancing links with the eastern delta provinces. The Southern Corridor connecting Dien Bien, Son La, and Hoa Binh with Hanoi, serving as a key regional transit route. The Da River Economic–Ecological Corridor, connecting Viet Tri and Hoa Binh, which functions not only as a trade route but also as a unique tourism and ecological development space.

A highlight of the regional logistics strategy is the Vinh Phuc ICD Logistics Center – Vietnam SuperPortTM, covering 83 hectares with a total investment of nearly USD 300 million, located in Binh Xuyen Industrial Hub and jointly developed by T&T Group (Vietnam) and YCH Group (Singapore). This is the first “super port” within ASEAN’s smart logistics network and one of the largest logistics hubs in Northern Vietnam.

The project features Vietnam’s first off-airport air cargo terminal, fully equipped with functions equivalent to an airport cargo terminal—customs clearance, security screening, storage, ULD handling, and cargo transport to airports. The entire cargo handling process is secured and monitored by a 24/7 CCTV system, aviation security, and customs forces. Covering more than 11,000 square meters, with an annual capacity of around 50,000 tons, the warehouse meets international standards and serves carriers and businesses from major markets such as the US and Europe—enhancing air logistics connectivity and affirming Vietnam’s position on the global supply chain map.

Currently, Vietnam SuperPortTM is collaborating with Google and Kyndryl to develop next-generation AI applications for security screening, hazardous goods identification, and automated document verification, thereby improving operational safety and efficiency. The project is also supported by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in developing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), robotic loaders, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), automating warehouse operations, increasing productivity by 35%, and reducing errors by 50%.

With its strategic vision, synchronized development orientation, and large-scale projects like Vietnam SuperPortTM, Phu Tho is steadily affirming its position as the industrial–logistics–service center of the Northern Midland and Mountainous Region, contributing to regional connectivity and driving national economic growth in the new era.

Van Cuong