Some 406 million tons of cargo and 232.4 million passengers were transported via waterways in 2022, according to the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration.

The figures represent a year-on-year increase of 20 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively.

However, these achievements still failed to match the sector’s potential, Deputy Head of the Administration Tong Hoang Khoa told a meeting on December 26 to review tasks in 2022 and discuss operations in 2023.

Infrastructure is also underdeveloped. Investment from the State budget accounts for just 2 per cent of total investment capital in the entire transport sector, while private investment remains limited.

By 2030, public investment earmarked for upgrading infrastructure and exploiting the potential of inland waterways is estimated at more than VND24.7 trillion ($1.03 billion).