The Vietnamese government has asked the ministries of transport and defense and northern Hai Phong city to explore the possibility of building a large seaport in the city, local newspaper Transport reported on Monday.

The agencies are tasked to report to the government about the potential construction of the port named Nam Do Son (southern Do Son), which serves both economic development and security and defense purposes.

The newspaper did not give any further details about the futureport.

In January, local newspaper Hai Phong reported that the People's Committee of the city and Vietnam's Navy Command on Jan. 14 discussed a project on building a 3,000-hectare port in the southern area of Do Son town with an investment of some 8 trillion Vietnamese dong (503 million U.S. dollars).

The local authorities said the project is highly feasible, although it needs careful considerations regarding planning, environmental impact assessment and infrastructure construction. Hai Phong newspaper did not mention the port's purpose (for civil or military use) and schedule for construction, as well as fundingsources.

Local officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

According to a source from the city, construction of the Nam Do Son port is scheduled to kick off in early 2007. Half of the estimated cost of 8 trillion Vietnamese dong will come from the state budget, and the other from the local navy, the source said.

Source:Xinhua