Vietnam’s Seaports Positioned as Key Hubs Linking ASEAN and Russia

Speaking on the sidelines of the 10th Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok (Russia), German Maslov, FESCO Deputy CEO for Logistics, assessed that Vietnam can be regarded as the gateway seaport on the transport map with ASEAN, serving as a driving force to boost cargo transportation between Russia and ASEAN.

Trong Tuan

September 11, 2025 | 13:56

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According to the Vietnam News Agency, many Russian logistics companies have launched rail and maritime transport routes to foster Vietnam-Russia trade. Among them, FESCO Group plays a pivotal role with its project to develop Ho Chi Minh City’s seaport into a transshipment hub for goods destined for Southeast Asian countries.

According to FESCO Deputy CEO for Logistics German Maslov, after two years of operating the maritime route linking Vladivostok with Vietnamese ports, the service has proven highly effective and has drawn considerable interest from customers in both countries. From a single vessel at the outset, FESCO has now expanded to three regular vessels. The volume of goods transported by FESCO between Vietnam and Russia in 2025 increased by 16% compared to 2024. Cargo from ASEAN countries to Russia is also being transshipped through Vietnamese ports by FESCO.

Vietnam’s Seaports Positioned as Key Hubs Linking ASEAN and Russia

Vietnam’s seaport master plan prioritizes the development of international gateway ports, combined with international transshipment, in Hai Phong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. (Photo: Bao Chinh phu)

Building on this success, two months ago, FESCO launched additional transport routes from Vietnam to Saint Petersburg in the northwest and to Novorossiysk in the south. This means that goods from Vietnam can now reach all three of Russia’s largest ports. Maslov affirmed that Vietnam has become an indispensable location for expanding logistics operations in the region.

In addition to routes to Russia, Vietnam also serves as an important hub in regional connections. FESCO operates shipping lines between Vietnam and Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Thanks to the Vietnamese gateway, FESCO’s cargo volume with Malaysia has increased by 66%, and with Indonesia has doubled, equivalent to thousands of containers.

Maslov emphasized that Vietnam can indeed be considered the gateway seaport on the transport map with ASEAN and a crucial factor in enhancing cargo transportation between Russia and ASEAN. FESCO has already opened a representative office in Vietnam and is considering plans to establish warehouses, port facilities, and joint enterprises.

Vietnamese Consul General in Vladivostok Nguyen Viet Kien remarked that Vladivostok should be viewed as a gateway rather than merely a market. If this gateway is timely utilized and secured, it will provide even more favorable opportunities to access the Russian market and the broader Eurasian market. Moreover, the Russian Far East will receive significantly greater investment in the near future, as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at the recent Eastern Economic Forum that priority will be given to developing energy, road transport systems, and urban centers in the region.

This presents a favorable condition and timing for Vietnamese enterprises to invest abroad, capitalizing on their role as pioneers who move first and establish an initial foothold in the market. Nguyen Viet Kien stressed that the Consulate General and Vietnam’s Trade Office in Vladivostok stand ready to serve as a bridge and advisor for domestic enterprises in establishing and expanding their investments.

At present, Vietnam has established 32 maritime transport routes, including 25 international and 7 domestic routes. In addition to intra-Asian routes, two routes from the northern region connect to North America, while the southern region has developed 16 long-haul shipping routes to North America and Europe, surpassing other Southeast Asian countries, second only to Malaysia and Singapore.

With the government’s open investment policies, Vietnam’s seaport system has attracted numerous professional port operators and major global shipping companies to participate in the construction and operation of seaports.

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