Page 248 - Ebook HTKH 2024

wharves have small loading and unloading capacity and poor waterway transport
infrastructure is unable to receive large-sized means of transport. This leads to low

economic efficiency of inland waterway transport. Specifically, the Mekong Delta
currently has a total of 2,510 ports and inland waterways, including 92 ports and 2,418
inland waterways. Besides, there are more than 100 floating berths forming the port
network. The total number of ports and wharves under management by the State is 2,167
ports and wharves. However, out of 2,167 ports and loading and unloading wharves,
there are 1,400 ports and wharves with a loading and unloading capacity of less than
10,000 tons/year, plus the handling is still carried out in a rudimentary manner without
applying science and technology leading to the inability to accept large vehicles. In

addition, the means of transport in the region are only strong in terms of quantity, but
the tonnage and transport capacity are low, so the operating range is limited, leading to
unexploited productivity. In addition, the connection with external traffic, with the
necessary internal port roads, is still limited. However, at present, the deep-water ports
of the Mekong Delta are not linked to outside traffic.
In summary, the inland waterway network in the Mekong Delta region is also long

and of higher quality than other regions in the country with a 28,000 km long river and
canal system. The inland waterway system in the region has a dense network of rivers
and canals, mainly serving the transportation of major commodities such as construction
materials, petroleum, rice, scraps, fertilizers or small goods. retail of the people. With a
dense waterway network along with the main advantage of inland waterway transport is
transporting more goods per 1 km than road (truck), freight rates are more competitive
(lower transportation costs). In all regional transport strategies to date, inland waterways

have been identified as a region-specific mode. Regarding the collection of agricultural
products, it is mainly done through canals, from small boats to big boats and then
focusing on larger vehicles at focal points due to the culture living along the canals,
instead of sticking along the road like in other areas. City connection networks between
Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia by inland waterways are relatively convenient on the
main transport corridors (the Mekong Delta with Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast).

Besides, the inland waterway infrastructure also has some difficulties. Although
inland waterway transport in the Mekong Delta is dense, and is typical of the mode and
infrastructure in the Mekong Delta region, inland waterway transport has not yet reached
its inherent potential with very low return. Low productivity of the inland waterway
system; investment in the inland waterway system is still limited; investment procedures
are still difficult; transport demand is still low. There exists at some break points of
freight routes on the main canals leading to Ho Chi Minh City. The waterway network
requires synchronous investment of the entire route as well as port, wharf and vehicle

infrastructure (especially infrastructure for container transport). Only a few bottlenecks
such as static without bridges (Mang Thit, Tra On, Nang Hai, etc.), high density (Cho
Gao canal) also affect the whole system. Currently, large ships can only travel between
Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho via Hau River,

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