On the sidelines of the recent 10th Eastern Economic Forum, FESCO’s Deputy General Director for logistics in Vladivostok, German Maslov, said that after two years operating the sea route connecting Vladivostok with Vietnamese ports, the route has proven highly effective and attracted strong demand from customers in both countries. Initially operated by a single vessel, FESCO now runs three vessels regularly, with cargo volumes between Vietnam and Russia expanding by 16% in 2025 compared to 2024. Goods from ASEAN member states to Russia are also transshipped through Vietnamese ports.

Two months ago, FESCO added routes from Vietnam to Saint Petersburg in the northwest and Novorossiysk in the south, enabling Vietnamese cargo to access Russia’s three largest ports. Maslov emphasized that Vietnam has become an indispensable location for logistics development in the region. Beyond Russia, Vietnam is also seen as a key hub for regional routes, including Vietnam–Malaysia, Vietnam–Indonesia, and Vietnam–Thailand. Thanks to this, FESCO’s cargo volume with Malaysia soared by 66%, and with Indonesia it doubled.

FESCO has opened a representative office in Vietnam and is considering building warehouses, port facilities, and joint ventures.

Vietnam’s Consul General in Vladivostok, Nguyen Viet Kien, stated that the Russian Far East accounts for nearly 40% of Russia’s vast territory, rich in minerals, land, and ports.

Vladivostok serves as a gateway for trade between Asia and Russia, with connections to the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian railways, facilitating domestic onward transport across Russia. Nevertheless, trade with Vietnam remains modest, with Q1 2025 turnover at around US$55 million, of which 90% is Vietnamese exports. In terms of investment, TH True Milk has established a 4,000-hectare cattle farm near Vladivostok.

Consul General Kien emphasized that Vladivostok should be viewed as a strategic gateway, and timely exploitation offers opportunities to expand into the Russian and broader Eurasian markets.

With increased investment in the Far East announced at the recent Eastern Economic Forum by Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on energy, transport infrastructure, and urban development, this presents a prime opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to “pave the way” and establish early market presence. The Vietnamese Consulate and trade representative office in Vladivostok stand ready to serve as a bridge, providing guidance and support for domestic enterprises in establishing and expanding investments in the time ahead, Kien added.

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