Page 245 - Ebook HTKH 2024

Figure 1. The basic research framework

3. Current situation of inland waterway transportation for the Mekong delta
region
3.1. The inland waterway infrastructure of The Mekong Delta Region
The Mekong Delta is considered to be one of regions in Vietnam that tends to

develop faster and faster in logistics service, with favorable natural conditions for the
development of inland waterway transport thanks to its 28,000 km long river system; in
which, 23,000 km is used for exploiting water transport; there are 2 arterial waterways
from Ho Chi Minh City to Kien Giang, Ca Mau and Quan Chanh Bo canal (Tra Vinh
province) for large vessels entering and leaving the Hau river.
The Mekong River Delta has about 13,400 km of riverways, about 10,000 km of
rivers and canals which are capably utilised for transportation (rivers, canals, canals,
with water level of 1 m or more), of which there are nearly 2,500 km of rivers and canals

which are suitable for transporting vehicles with a tonnage of 50-100 tons. Currently,
the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration only manages 2,882 km, the rest is
managed by localities. In addition, the Mekong Delta is the area with the highest density
2
of inland waterways in Vietnam, reaching 0.61 km/km (Vietnam Inland Waterway
Transport Association, 2020). The main routes include 04 vertical axes connecting the
East - Southwest, 03 horizontal axes and branch routes. Inland waterway transport

accounts for about 49% of the total volume of goods transported throughout the region,
and 70 to 80% of goods exchanged through seaports.
Vessels with large tonnage of over 5,000 tons can run on the Tien and Hau rivers,
but cannot go to the sea because Dinh An estuary and Tien river estuary are all sediment.
The Dinh An - Song Hau maritime route has a length of 182.26 km, passing through the
territory of 07 provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho,
Hau Giang and Soc Trang, which plays an important role in the socio-economic

development of Can Tho city and the provinces mentioned above. In the past, Can Tho
city has coordinated with the Ministry of Transport to implement the project of dredging
combined with product recovery of Dinh An - Can Tho waterway.
To connect the Tien and Hau rivers, the transport industry currently only uses the
Vam Nao River (An Giang) as the main channel, causing vehicles from the upstream

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