The eastern North-South expressway currently has 1,222 km of four-lane roadway with limited access and no continuous emergency stopping lanes. These sections include: Huu Nghi Border Gate - Chi Lang (43 km), Mai Son - Cam Lo (465 km), Quang Ngai - Phan Thiet (580 km), and My Thuan - Ca Mau (134 km).
To meet transportation demands, the Ministry of Construction has proposed expanding the section from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to six lanes. This involves 18 component projects totaling 1,144 km, with a preliminary estimated investment of over 152,000 billion VND.
The My Thuan - Can Tho - Ca Mau sections are not currently being considered for expansion due to low traffic volume, difficult construction conditions, and scarce material resources.
The Ministry of Construction stated that the expressway expansion will be implemented through PPP, specifically build-operate-transfer (BOT) contracts, in line with the policy of mobilizing private sector resources.
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Vung Ang - Bung expressway through Quang Tri province. Photo: Dac Thanh |
Vung Ang - Bung expressway through Quang Tri province. Photo: Dac Thanh
The Ministry of Construction has presented two investment options for expanding 15 component projects of the North-South expressway. Option 1 divides the project into two PPP projects to enhance financial efficiency: a northern section (Mai Son - National Highway 45 - Nghi Son - Dien Chau) and a southern section (Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet - Dau Giay). This option's advantages include project sizes large enough for high-performing sections to support lower-performing ones, minimizing state capital, and facilitating management and operation.
Option 2 divides the project into 5-6 PPP projects. While this attracts investors due to smaller capital requirements, it also presents challenges. Central region projects may receive less attention, requiring state capital support, and potentially leading to uneven development.
Regarding the three sections currently operating under BOT contracts – Dien Chau - Bai Vot, Nha Trang - Cam Lam, and Cam Lam - Vinh Hao, totaling 178 km and approximately 25,343 billion VND in investment – the Ministry of Construction has been working with investors to encourage business participation.
The North-South expressway expansion is scheduled for 2026-2030, with some sections potentially starting construction as early as Quarter II/2026 and becoming operational by the end of 2028.
Approximately 1,375 km of the North-South expressway, with 2 to 4 lanes, has already been constructed. 654 km from phase 1 (2017-2020) are operational, while the remaining 721 km from phase 2 (2021-2025) are under development, expected to be completed in 2025-2026.
Due to limited resources, many sections were built with only 2-4 lanes instead of the planned 6, leading to insufficient capacity, potential congestion, and safety risks. The government directed the Ministry of Construction to explore options for expanding the entire route to 6 lanes, aiming to commence some component projects by 12/2025.
Several domestic enterprises have expressed interest in participating in the North-South expressway expansion through PPP: Deo Ca Group, Son Hai Group, Phuong Thanh Transportation Construction Company, VIDIFI, VEC, and Rang Dong Joint Stock Company.
Anh Duy