Vietnam is being positioned as a strategic transshipment hub for Southeast Asia, with Russian logistics firms expanding sea and rail routes to boost bilateral trade, reported Vietnam Net news agency.

Russia's FESCO Transportation Group is leading efforts to develop Ho Chi Minh City port into a regional logistics centre. Deputy CEO for Logistics German Maslov said the sea route linking Vladivostok with Vietnamese ports has proven effective, prompting strong business interest.

FESCO now operates three regular vessels on the route, up from one. Cargo volume between Vietnam and Russia rose 16 per cent in 2025, with ASEAN goods increasingly transshipped via Vietnamese ports.

New services to Saint Petersburg and Novorossiysk now allow Vietnamese exports to reach Russia's three largest ports. Maslov said Vietnam is now indispensable to FESCO's logistics network.

Vietnam also connects regional routes to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Cargo with Malaysia rose 66 per cent, while trade with Indonesia doubled. FESCO has opened a Vietnam office and is considering warehouses, terminals and joint ventures.

Vietnamese Consul General in Vladivostok Nguyen Viet Kien said Russia's Far East, which covers nearly 40 per cent of the country, offers vast potential in minerals, land and seaports. Vladivostok connects directly to the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian railways.

Despite the logistics growth, trade turnover remains modest at US$55 million in Q1 2025, with 90 per cent from Vietnamese exports. Vietnam's TH True Milk has invested in a 4,000-hectare dairy farm near Vladivostok.

Mr Kien urged Vietnamese firms to view Vladivostok as a strategic gateway to Russian and Eurasian markets. He said the region is set for increased investment following new priorities announced by President Vladimir Putin.

The Consulate General and Vietnam's trade office in Vladivostok are ready to support Vietnamese businesses seeking expansion, he added.