After experiencing tremendous changes as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, Vietnam confronts a number of difficulties, including poor transportation infrastructure and a lack of storage services. Even so, it impressively moves up three ranks and claims the eighth spot on the list of top ten nations in logistics as of 2020.

The infrastructure and capacities of the supply chain are still being developed in Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Review the noteworthy occasions that have had a significant impact on the development of Vietnam’s logistics business recently:

First, Decision 221/QD-TTG dated 22 Feb 2021 issued by the Prime Minister, together with its revised and augmented decision 4 years after, Decision 221/QD-TTG dated 22 Feb 2021, is the action plan to increase competitiveness and grow Vietnam’s logistics services through 2025.

Second, to promote the planning of transportation modalities, a number of master plans, including those for inland waterways, seaports, rail and road transportation, have been released by the Prime Minister.

Third, COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted domestic logistics. In various regions in the Red River Delta and the Southeast, the logistical chain has been in difficulty after the 4th corona outbreak and social segregation policies.

Fourth, shipping has had tremendous growth during those hard times. Despite the epidemic’s significant effects, Vietnamese ports would handle more than 703 million tons of cargo in total, an increase of 2% from the previous year. Exports will total more than 184 million tons, up 4%, while domestic products will total close to 303 million tons, up 5%. Nearly 24 million TEUs of container freight alone were predicted, an increase of 6% from the same time of the previous year. Vietnam’s shipping fleet also fared well during the epidemic, with total transit volume predicted at 156.5 million tons, an increase of 2% from 2020.

Fifth, the surge in logistics for e-commerce is also a remarkable turning point in Vietnam’s epidemic: the pandemic has helped change customers’ buying patterns, and online shopping has become increasingly popular.

Sixth, the establishment of Vietnam Logistics Human Resource Development Association and Vietnam Student Logistics Club Network has promoted logistics human resources to new heights. Up to now, there have been about 50 universities and more than 60 colleges teaching logistics.

Seventh, strengthening associations’ function in the logistics industry is paid more attention. Several new groups were founded in 2021, including Vietnam Logistics Human Resource Development Association (VALOMA), Ho Chi Minh City Logistics Association (HLA), and Hai Phong Logistics Association (HPLA).

Eighth, the decision to start construction of Long Thanh Airport was approved. With the expected scale of phase 1 reaching 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year, it will become a national and regional air logistics center. At the same time, the items related to the airport simultaneously started construction in accordance with the Government’s request.

Last but not least, a number of sizable logistics hubs are about to be established, and the Vietnam Logistics Forum will continue to mark progress for this sector by fostering the necessary circumstances to connect Vietnamese logistics to other parts of the world.