The Ultimate Capital Connection: A Visionary “$85,000 Billion” Road Project Linking Hanoi to Seven Neighboring Provinces

The 5th Ring Road: A 330km Long Project for the Hanoi Capital Region

The Hanoi People’s Committee’s plan to implement the Hanoi Party Committee’s action program to carry out Resolution 06 of the Politburo on planning, construction, management, and sustainable development of Vietnamese urban areas by 2030, with a vision towards 2045, includes a goal to prepare for investment and construction of the 5th Ring Road before 2030.

The people of Hanoi and the localities through which the 5th Ring Road will pass are highly anticipating this project. The operation of the 5th Ring Road will enhance inter-regional connectivity, facilitate transportation, and contribute to the socio-economic development of the related areas.

Based on the Prime Minister’s Decision in 2014 to approve the detailed planning of the 5th Ring Road of the Hanoi Capital Region, the road will have a total length of approximately 330km, excluding the 41km that overlap with the Noi Bai – Ha Long, Hanoi – Thai Nguyen, Noi Bai – Lao Cai, and National Highway 3 expressways.

The project is designed as a 4-6 lane expressway with a minimum road width of 22-33m and auxiliary roads on both sides. With a total investment of about VND 85,000 billion, the project is expected to be completed before 2030.

The road will pass through the administrative boundaries of 8 provinces and cities: Hanoi (48km), Hoa Binh (35.4km), Ha Nam (35.3km), Thai Binh (28.5km), Hai Duong (52.7km), Bac Giang (51.3km), Thai Nguyen (28.9km), and Vinh Phuc (51.5km).

Recently, the People’s Committee of Bac Giang province proposed to the Prime Minister to allocate central government funds for the construction of the 5th Ring Road section passing through Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen provinces, with investment to be made before 2030.

Previously, the People’s Committee of Ha Nam province also made a similar proposal regarding the investment in the 5th Ring Road passing through their province. In response, the Ministry of Transport pledged to coordinate closely with the province in mobilizing capital and studying investment options to complete the ring road in the province as soon as resource conditions permit.

How Many Ring Roads Does Hanoi Have?

The approved transport planning of the Hanoi Capital by 2030, with a vision towards 2050, mentions that Hanoi will develop 7 ring roads. These roads will not only connect intra-city traffic but also link Hanoi with surrounding provinces and cities.

These ring roads form the foundation for the road transport framework in Hanoi and require investment to be completed synchronously as soon as possible. This will contribute significantly to ensuring balanced, comprehensive, and sustainable development for the city.

Prior to the 5th Ring Road mentioned above, Hanoi has been investing in and constructing other ring roads, including:

The 1st Ring Road runs through Nguyen Khoai, Tran Khat Chan, Kim Lien, Hoang Cau, and Voi Phuc – Ring Road 2 (from Cau Giay to Buoi). It is the main road connecting East and West through the center of Hanoi. Currently, only the section from Hoang Cau to Voi Phuc remains unfinished, creating a bottleneck that needs to be addressed to complete the entire route.

Ring Road 2 is currently an urban expressway that runs from Vinh Tuy Bridge through Nga Tu Vong, Nga Tu So, Nhat Tan Bridge, Dong Tru Bridge, Gia Lam underpass, and Dam Quang Trung, returning to Vinh Tuy Bridge. Some sections of this route are elevated, allowing vehicles to bypass traffic jams and move quickly within the city.

Ring Road 2.5 is a supporting road that connects Ring Road 2 with Ring Road 3, passing through the West West Lake, Nguyen Van Huyen, Trung Kinh, Dam Hong, Kim Dong, and Linh Nam areas.

Ring Road 3 has been synchronously invested and constructed, including both elevated and ground-level sections. It runs from Thanh Tri Bridge through Linh Dam, Nguyen Xien, Khuat Duy Tien, Pham Hung, Pham Van Dong, to Thang Long Bridge, serving as a major transport axis in Hanoi.

Ring Road 3.5 is a supplementary road between Ring Road 3 and Ring Road 4, connecting from Phap Van Expressway in Thanh Tri to Phuc La in Ha Dong, passing through Hoai Duc, Nam Tu Liem, Bac Tu Liem, and National Highway 32 to Thuong Cat Bridge.

Among the ring roads, Ring Road 4 is considered the most urgent and important project in Hanoi at present as it connects 5 provinces and cities in the Capital Region. The section passing through Hanoi is 56.5km long and runs through Soc Son, Me Linh, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc, Thanh Oai, Thuong Tin, and Ha Dong districts. Construction of Ring Road 4 is currently being expedited.