Container freight trains from Vietnam to Belgium help boost railway logistics services
Container freight trains from Vietnam to Belgium will open up a new cooperation direction to increase benefits of railway logistics services, Deputy General Director of the Rail Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company (Ratraco) Nguyen Hoang Thanh told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The first container freight train from Vietnam to Belgium. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Container freight trains from Vietnam to Belgiumwill open up a new cooperation direction to increase benefits of railwaylogistics services, Deputy General Director of the Rail Transport and TradeJoint Stock Company (Ratraco) Nguyen Hoang Thanh told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The first train departed from Hanoi’s Yen Vien station onJuly 20 for Liege city of Belgium, where the goods continued to be transportedto Rotterdam of the Netherlands by lorries.
The second train left the Yen Vien station on July 27, while the third andfourth are expected to set off on August 5 and August 10.
This is the result of cooperation between the Vietnameserailway sector and Maersk Lines of Denmark, Thanh said, adding that the Vietnamese side is in charge of packing goods into containers at warehouses and transporting them to the Yen Vien station and then to the country's border with China.
Regarding the issue that Vietnamese railways cannot operatea train on its own to provide direct freight transport services to Europe instead of justserving as an intermediary to supply logistics services, Thanh said that atthis time, it is very difficult for the sector to organise a rail transportroute from Vietnam to Europe.
At present, Vietnam's railway infrastructure remains limited,as it can only set up a 23-carrriage train while the Asia-Europe freighttrain must have a minimum of 41 carriages.
Therefore, Vietnam's railways must cooperate with otherpartners to ensure the necessary conditions, he said.
However, Thanh said that cooperation with major businessessuch as Maersk Lines – the world’s largest container shipping company – will openup more opportunities for Vietnam’s railway industry./.
As many employees of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, the group's production and trade as well as projects and plants have met with many difficulties and challenges, and above all, the employees' safety and health are at high risk.
Vietnam ranks 39th among 160 countries and territories, and third in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in logistics performance index (LPI), heard a workshop held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on July 30.
Vietnam and India are emerging as economic powers in the region that will make a difference in the post-pandemic times, The Economic Times cited Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma as saying.
The General Department of Logistics under the Ministry of Defence held a ceremony in Hanoi on August 1 to set off medical staff of the COVID-19 treatment hospital 5D to support Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring Binh Duong province in the southern region where the pandemic continues developing unpredictably.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
The first container freight train from Vietnam to Belgium. (Photo: VNA) 
