On the morning of April 19, we visited the construction site of packages XL-05 and XL-06, components of the Tham Luong – Ben Cat – Rach Nuoc Len canal renovation project invested by the Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Construction Project Management Board.
Sparse in some places, bustling in others
In Package XL-05 (the section from Tan Ky Tan Quy Bridge to Bung Bridge), over 3 km long, Thuan An Group is a member of a consortium of several companies. Thuan An Group’s portion of the work corresponds to VND 77.5/561.5 billion, nearly 14% of the contract value for the package.
Observations here indicate that on the right bank, only Thanh Tuan Company is currently working on constructing concrete piles, from Tan Ky Tan Quy Bridge to Road No. 15; however, the section from Road No. 15 to Bung Bridge has yet to see any action. No engineers or workers from Thuan An Group were visible on the construction site.
Nguyen Van Linh – Nguyen Huu Tho underpass project under construction.Photo: AI MY
Similarly, in Package XL-06 (the section from Bung Bridge to Tham Luong Bridge), 2.8 km long, Thuan An Group has partnered with several companies to undertake a portion of work worth approximately VND 53.6/458.3 billion, close to 11.8% of the contract for the package. On this package, Mr. Toan, an engineer from the Civil Engineering and Public Works Company, reported that Thuan An Group was working on the other side of the canal. Nearly two months ago, workers and engineers were present at the site, pouring concrete for technical trenches… but they have since withdrawn.
In contrast to this inactivity, at the construction sites of two underpass projects – Nguyen Van Linh – Nguyen Huu Tho (District 7) and Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 – Thuan An Group personnel were working normally.
In Dak Lak, Thuan An Group is carrying out a package in the Eastern Bypass of Ho Chi Minh Road, Buon Ma Thuot City. After several years, the 5.2 km section that this unit is responsible for remains incomplete, with no construction activity taking place. Meanwhile, in Quang Nam, Mr. Vo Ta Thanh, Project Director for the Renovation and Upgrading of National Highway 14E (under Project Management Unit 4 of the Vietnam Directorate of Roads), said that after a suspension of approximately 10 days, from April 17, Thuan An Construction and Trading Development JSC, a subsidiary of Thuan An Group, and several other companies awarded Package XD02 have returned to the construction site.
Preparing for all scenarios
A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (Giao Thong Board) – the investor for the Ring Road 3 and Nguyen Van Linh – Nguyen Huu Tho roundabout underpass project – stated that the Giao Thong Board had just received a document from Thuan An Group. Accordingly, the group announced that Mr. Tran Duc Khoa, Deputy General Director of the group, had been authorized to manage all production and business activities of the Thuan An contractor since April 5.
Upon receipt of the document, the Giao Thong Board responded, requesting that the Thuan An contractor provide detailed information on its legal entity, legal status, finances, and work plan. The Giao Thong Board also requested that Thuan An report to the investor a detailed plan to ensure the continued implementation of the work in the packages.
“The Giao Thong Board will continue to strengthen inspections and urge the Thuan An contractor to maintain manpower and equipment to ensure construction progress at the construction sites of the two packages according to the contract terms. The board is also preparing a contingency plan to terminate the contract and transfer the remaining construction volume to other members of the consortium in accordance with the contract terms in the event that the contractor fails to meet the required progress or is unable to continue construction in the coming period,” the Giao Thong Board representative said.
According to our findings, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Investment Construction Project Management Board, the investor for the Tham Luong – Ben Cat – Rach Nuoc Len canal renovation project, has conveyed similar messages.
Dr. Duong Như Hung of the Industrial Management Faculty, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, commented that it is the correct procedure for the investor to send a document requesting that Thuan An Group clarify its organizational structure, legal representative, and work plan according to the contract after the company’s executives were arrested.
According to Dr. Hung, the arrest of Thuan An company executives for investigation will have an impact on the morale of subcontractors, hence indirectly affecting the implementation progress of packages that the group is involved in at projects in Ho Chi Minh City. Critically, the investor must closely monitor progress should the contractor commit to continuing the work. If the contractor fails to meet the progress requirements, the contract should be terminated and the work transferred to other contractors in the consortium.
“The Directorate of Roads has just requested that Project Management Unit 4 work with Thuan An Group immediately regarding their ability to complete the package in the renovation and upgrading project for National Highway 14E. From there, they will propose an appropriate solution.”
Commitments and proposals
On April 19, Thuan An Group sent a document to the investor of the Tham Luong – Ben Cat – Rach Nuoc Len canal renovation project, committing to continue construction on-site so as not to affect the project’s progress. Thuan An Group’s construction volume in Package XL-05 has reached 4% and in Package XL-06, 4.42%.
Thuan An Group cited a lack of sand for filling and the absence of a dumping site as reasons for not being able to continue construction on the two packages and asked the investor to resolve these issues.
Psychological impact limited
In Hanoi, Thuan An Group participates in several key transport project packages invested by the Hanoi Transport Construction Project Investment Management Board and has completed many of them. Currently, the unit is working on a package for the construction of an overpass at the An Duong Vuong – Thanh Nien intersection, with a contract value of over VND 191 billion. On-site observations indicate that the package components are mostly complete.
Thuan An Group is involved in a package in the Au Co – Nghi Tam Road expansion project (Tay Ho District, Hanoi). The project is nearing completion.Photo: HUU HUNG
A representative of Department I of the Hanoi Transport Construction Project Investment Management Board said that they will continue to urge the unit to complete the package; in case of “difficulties,” the investor will distribute the work volume reasonably to ensure the construction progress of the project according to the city’s directives.
In Bac Giang, Thuan An Group is among the contractors participating in the construction of the Dong Viet cable-stayed bridge connecting Bac Giang and Hai Duong and the approach roads to the bridge (Yen Dung District, Bac Giang Province). The bridge has many spans completed, and workers continue to work normally. A worker shared that although leaders of Thuan An Group have been arrested, the workers remain committed to meeting the progress targets.
