These modes are increasingly seen as effective alternatives to the overloaded road transport system, contribut ing to the emission reduction goals and the development of green and sustainable logistics.
According to Mr. Ivan Petrov, former President of FIATA, in today’s highly interconnected world, the role of rail transport should be viewed on a broader scale — linking countries and regions. He emphasized that economies should focus on building international railway corridors rather than operating within national boundaries. He urged Southeast Asian nations, particularly Vietnam, to strengthen cross-border connectivity to boost freight transport by rail.
Mr. Petrov highlighted that Vietnam should optimize multimodal transport by expanding its use of railways, maximizing the potential of inland waterways, enhancing flexible links with neighboring countries, accelerating digital transformation, adopting green technologies, and fostering public–private partnerships.
Panel discussion “Advancing Waterway and Railway Transport Toward a Sustainable Supply Chain”
Lambert van Dieren, the founder of the Green Wagon Corridor in the Netherlands, shared that the initiative connects Europe’s logistics hubs through railway and inland waterway systems. The model has been "greened" by integrating renewable energy sources and electrified operations, which has significantly cut emissions.
He said the success of the Green Wagon Corridor can be replicated elsewhere and noted that Vietnam could learn from this approach. The distance between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City — around 1,800 km — is comparable to the Zwolle–Verona route in Europe (approximately 2,000 km), suggesting similar potential for a sustainable transport corridor.Outside of Europe, many global logistics enterprises are also shifting toward renewable energy to replace high-emission fuel sources.
Vietnam is making gradual progress in promoting multimodal and green logistics development. Professor Bui Thien Thu, from Okayama University (Japan) and former Director General of the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration, noted that Vietnam has more than 17,000 km of inland waterways and 3,200 km of coastline, offering vast potential for cost-efficient and environmentally friendly transport.
Waterway transport emits only 13% of the greenhouse gases produced by road transport, while traffic accidents are significantly fewer. Only 25–30 people die on the roads daily, compared to the total number of waterway fatalities in an entire year.
Vietnam currently has over 300 inland ports, 6,000 wharves, and 270,000 vessels, including nearly 3,000 seagoing ships serving exports. However, investment in waterway transport accounts for just 2–2.5% of total infrastructure spending, while road transport receives around 60%, creating an imbalance in the freight transport structure (waterways 20%, roads 50%).
Dr. Bui Thien Thu proposed greater investment in multimodal links between waterways, seaports, and railways; identification of key canals and ports for public investment; encouragement of private participation; and preferential tax, fee, and logistics zoning policies.
Delegates participating in the panel discussion
Sharing international experience, Mr. Chen Wei, Deputy General Manager of Sinotrans Overseas Company (China), pointed out that inland waterway and rail transport form the backbone of emission-reduction strategies. However, he identified two key challenges: fragmented "last-mile" connectivity and unintegrated information systems among stakeholders.
To address these issues, Sinotrans has developed inland multimodal logistics centers located 400–1,000 km from seaports, connected by rail and waterway. The company also built a unified digital platform — a "control tower" — that integrates data from transport operators, ports, and railways. The platform enables real-time cargo tracking and improves supply chain efficiency.
Notably, the company is implementing an emission-reduction program in Hong Kong (China) using electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, along with a proprietary carbon-calculation tool to measure and optimize emissions across operations. "Integrated investments in both physical and digital infrastructure will be the key to scaling up green transport models," Mr. Chen stressed.
Experts at the session agreed that inland waterway and railway transport are strategic solutions that can ease road congestion, enhance logistics efficiency, cut emissions, and promote sustainable development. The combination of public–private investment, digital transformation, and green technology, alongside the establishment of multimodal transport corridors, will enable the scaling up of green transport models.
