Vietnam's logistics market is projected to reach 250-280 billion USD by 2035, positioning itself among the top 15 largest markets globally, according to the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA). This growth aims for a 12-15% increase annually. Logistics will play a pivotal role in realizing Vietnam's goal of being among the world's top 20 GDP economies.

However, this growth comes with a significant challenge regarding NetZero targets. Dao Trong Khoa, Chairman of VLA, noted that transport accounts for approximately 16-24% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with logistics contributing 7-8% of global CO2. He added, "As international trade's environmental standards become stricter, greening becomes a prerequisite for Vietnamese logistics to enter the most demanding markets."

Le Hong Ha, General Director of Vietnam Airlines, believes that greening transport gateways like airports not only reduces emissions but also enhances the operational efficiency of the logistics system and lowers overall economic costs.

Aircraft unloading cargo at the airport. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

Transport gateways, such as airports, hold a special role in the economy. They are not merely points of arrival and departure for passengers or goods but also convergence points for trade, investment, and tourism flows. The operational efficiency of these gateways directly impacts logistics costs, business competitiveness, and a region's attractiveness.

For instance, in Hanoi, the Noi Bai gateway serves as a hub for international trade flows, connecting to inter-regional corridors and major industrial zones in Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, and Vinh Phuc. Millions of tons of goods annually pass through this airport and its surrounding logistics centers before distribution to domestic and international markets.

According to Ha, improving airport efficiency and reducing congestion will enhance passenger experience and strengthen the region's international connectivity. Simultaneously, ensuring stable and continuous operation of aviation and logistics gateways is crucial for improving supply chain resilience and security amidst global volatility.

"Yet, a modern airline terminal, despite billions of dong in investment, will see its efficiency diminish if goods are delayed exiting the gateway due to road congestion or insufficient storage and processing facilities", the General Director of Vietnam Airlines emphasized.

Therefore, airports like Noi Bai and other regional airports need to be closely connected with key nodes such as ICD Long Bien and inter-regional transport axes (like Ring Road 3,5 and Ring Road 4 of the Capital Region) to form a closed-loop supply chain. These nodes act as transit and distribution points for goods from airports to industrial zones, seaports, or domestic consumer markets.

Vietnam Airlines aircraft. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

When effectively connected, logistics centers can alleviate operational pressure at aviation gateways, optimize cargo transit, and ensure seamless integration and synchronization. This also leads to a reduction in logistics costs, which currently account for 16-17% of GDP, significantly higher than the global average of about 10-11%.

More importantly, the formation of inter-regional logistics corridors with optimized costs and reduced emissions will contribute to creating sustainable supply chains.

According to the VLA Chairman, the biggest challenge for the logistics sector today lies not in planning blueprints or new construction, but in implementation and synchronization. From a logistics perspective, the association often highlights three elements: connectivity, synchronization, and operation. If a port is highly modern but its connections to roads, railways, ICDs, and warehouses are not smooth, overall logistics costs remain high.

"If individual projects perform well but lack inter-regional coordination, data sharing, and common operating standards, the supply chain's efficiency cannot be optimized", Khoa explained.

Regarding this issue, Le Hong Ha believes it is necessary to monitor and accelerate the construction progress of Ring Road 3,5 and Ring Road 4 of the Capital Region to establish logistics, industrial, and satellite urban axes. This must be accompanied by promoting coordination mechanisms between Hanoi and relevant localities to ensure the completion of key milestones.

Ha supports the development of mass public transport, particularly the metro network, to alleviate congestion, enhance urban quality, and reduce social costs. He also advocates for an "infrastructure, service" approach with modern operational solutions.

Beyond physical infrastructure, green transformation also involves building "soft infrastructure" from data and digital standards. Shared data among aviation, dry ports, customs, and transport businesses will create a smart system with better forecasting capabilities. This enables aviation and logistics gateways to ensure continuous operation, supply chain stability, and increased response capacity during emergencies or global fluctuations.

According to Vietnam Airlines leadership, the digitalization of urban transport must be linked to ensuring data safety, personal data protection, cybersecurity, and limiting data misuse in the digital environment.

Yen Chi