Ｏｐｅｎｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　Ｇａｔｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ.docVIP

Ｏｐｅｎｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　Ｇａｔｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ 　　 　　By Vietnam Pictorial reporters 　　 　　Vietnam has nearly 3,300kin of coastline butmost of the system of the seaports is obsolete andsmall, unable to meet the increasing demand of astrongly developing economy. Therefore, plans to buildand develop a system of seaports, focusing onrenewing the technology, broadening the ports,building deep water ports and in-transit ports ofregional and international dimensions foraccommodating big freighters are being implemented. 　　The Vietnam National Shipping Lines is buildingdeep water ports, particularly Van Phong Port inKhanh Hen, into modern and large-scale internationalin-transit ports, expanding Lach Huyen Seaport in HalPhong to accommodate 60,000-80,000DWT-ships,building Ben Dinh Sao Mai Port and moving Sai GonPort to Cai Mep-Thi Vai area in Vung Tau toaccommodate big ships coming to handle goods. Theport is striving to reach a capacity of handling 50-55million tonnes of goods by 2010. With Vietnambecoming a member of the World Trade Organization,the amount of goods to the country will increase rapidlyand its economy will enjoy a high growth rate. Theseaports will play a more important role because theyserve as the gates to domestic and internationalmarkets. Building a modern system of seaportsbecomes more urgent. 　　 　　 Lying in the immense space of Ha Long Bay,Cai Lan Port together with Cai Lan Industrial Zone andBai Chay Bridge constitute a lively picture. Director ofCai Lan Port in Quang Ninh Vu Khac Tu said that it isthe most modern port in Vietnam. It was built inOctober 1999 with the ODA fund from the JapaneseGovernment and located in a favourable area shelteredfrom the wind, with less alluvia, deep water andstraight flow. The Port has a large area for turning,well-equipped wharfs, modern equipment for loadingand unloading goods and freight yards and stores ofinternational standards, able to handle simultaneouslythree 40,000DWT-ships. Vu Khac Tu also said that tomeet the re