Under the project, Vinamarine will dredge the Quan Chanh Bo Canal which connects the Dinh An estuary, the region’s gateway.

According to local authorities, around 70 per cent of the goods that the delta provinces import and export are shipped to HCM City ports through Dinh An.

After being dredged of 53,000 cu.m of silt and sand, the Dinh An estuary, at the mouth of the Hau River, would be able to receive vessels of 5,000 deadweight tonnes, Le Minh Khang, the harbour master at Can Tho seaport, said.

"The administration will use about VND525 billion ($31 million) to build four ports at Cai Cui Harbour, and dredge the Dinh An estuary to be able to handle vessels of over 20,000 DWT," the chairman of Vinamarine, Vuong Dinh Lam, said.

According to Luu Phuoc Luong, the deputy head of the South West Steering Committee, Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta’s ports can currently ship o­nly 30 per cent of goods of the region.