WB6 is the largest project on waterway infrastructure in the Red River Delta, implemented across 14 provinces and cities in the region to improve connections between inland waterways and coastal areas while reducing pressure on road transport.
The original project, which was completed in 2016, cost more than US$200 million, US$170 million of which was funded by the World Bank.
In order to maximise the project’s efficiency, Vietnam and the World Bank have signed an additional agreement to build a canal that connects the Day and Ninh Co rivers.
The canal and its related infrastructure will cost US$107.19 million, of which the World Bank provides US$78.74 million while the remaining US$28.45 million is financed by the Vietnamese government.
Located in the communes of Nghia Lac and Nghia Son in Nghia Hung District, the canal is scheduled for completion in mid-2022, helping fully-loaded 2,000-tonne ships and 3,000-tonne ships with reduced load to move through the Lach Giang river deep inland to Ninh Phuc Port in Ninh Binh Province.
In addition to the canal and its lock, the project will also include a bridge over the canal.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Deputy Transport Minister Nguyen Nhat stated that the canal will cut 20% of travel time of ships from Nam Dinh to ports in Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, thereby reducing logistics costs and greatly benefiting people in the Red River Delta.
