The plan would allow suitable fishing ports and wharves to accommodate inland waterway stations while retaining their primary role in supporting the fishing industry.
Authorities say the approach could create opportunities for tourism services including dining, shopping and fishing-related experiences.
Nhơn Lý Fishing Port in Quy Nhơn Đông Ward was originally developed as a docking, loading, trading and logistics hub for fishing vessels.
Its proximity to tourist destinations such as Kỳ Co and Hòn Khô, however, has prompted authorities to consider integrating the port into passenger transport routes.
According to the provincial People’s Committee, fishing ports and wharves with suitable conditions will be studied for the development of inland waterway stations that combine seafood exploitation with passenger transport for tourism.
The Nhơn Lý-Kỳ Co inland waterway route, about 5 km long, has been temporarily announced since June 2025 to regulate waterway traffic and ensure the safety of tourist transport, according to the Department of Construction.
Relevant agencies are finalizing technical documents for the route’s official announcement, expected in September 2026.
The current plan does not include a direct channel linking the route to Nhơn Lý Fishing Port. Authorities therefore plan to add the segment after the route is officially announced to provide safe and convenient access for vessels.
Once completed, the fishing port could serve not only the fishing industry but also as a pick-up and drop-off point for waterway tours to Kỳ Co and Hòn Khô. The model could connect tourists with local seafood, shopping and fishing village experiences.
Tourism growth in East Quy Nhơn Ward is providing further impetus for the plan. Tourist arrivals rose from about 700,000 in 2023 to nearly 960,000 in 2025, while tourism revenue exceeded VND 1,300 billion ($49.4 million), according to the ward’s People’s Committee.
The locality sees potential to develop tourism products around the fishing industry, allowing visitors to combine boat trips to Kỳ Co with experiences such as seafood meals, visits to fish markets, traditional fishing activities and interactions with local fishermen.
Nguyễn Thành Danh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of East Quy Nhơn Ward, said integrating tourism into a space traditionally used for production would require careful organization of the guest reception area, vessel traffic and seafood loading activities, with particular attention to safety, environmental hygiene and operating schedules.
The province is also considering similar models at other locations.
At Mũi Tấn in Quy Nhơn Ward, authorities are finalizing procedures to establish an inland waterway station serving the Hải Cảng-Nhơn Châu route.
The site will be temporarily used to receive and drop off tourists during the National Tourism Year-Gia Lai 2026.
The Hải Cảng-Nhơn Châu route, about 30 km long, has been operating since 2016. Unlike the Nhơn Lý-Kỳ Co route, which is still undergoing technical finalization, it already has established navigation channels.
The Mũi Tấn pick-up and drop-off point is intended to support more stable operation of the route.
Elsewhere, Tam Quan Fishing Port in North Hoài Nhơn Ward is being considered for an inland waterway station as part of a smart fishing port project combined with a storm shelter anchorage.
Đề Gi Fishing Port in Đề Gi Commune and Tân Phụng Fishing Port in Phù Mỹ Đông Commune are also being reviewed for their potential to connect with tourism.
Lê Anh Tuấn, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, said inland waterway routes must be planned comprehensively, taking into account location, water conditions, connectivity, passenger demand and operational efficiency.
The priority, he said, is to ensure passenger safety without disrupting fishing activities.
“It’s not enough to just have a wharf; the channel, infrastructure, and management mechanisms must all be synchronized,” Tuấn said, adding that the objective was to develop routes that could operate safely and sustainably while generating tourism products.
The approach is also intended to avoid scattered investment and make greater use of existing infrastructure.
The economic benefits could extend beyond passenger fares, as each boat trip may generate demand for dining, shopping, accommodation, vehicle rental and marine vocational experiences.
With local residents and service providers participating, revenue could be distributed across multiple stages of the tourism value chain.
The objective, authorities stress, is not to turn fishing ports into tourist wharves, but to add passenger transport and tourism functions where conditions allow while keeping fishing as the primary activity.
“If rationally planned, with clearly defined navigation conditions and appropriate operational organization, existing infrastructure can be further utilized for passenger transport and tourism, thereby expanding the value chain of the marine economy,” Tuấn said.