The Road to Progress: Hoa Binh – Moc Chau Expressway Slated for July 2025 Groundbreaking

The sectors and localities in Son La province are actively preparing the conditions and procedures to commence construction on the Hoa Binh – Moc Chau expressway, which passes through the province, by July 2025.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Deputy Director of the Son La Provincial Department of Transportation, shared that the department, as the standing agency of the Steering Committee for the construction of the Hoa Binh – Moc Chau expressway section in Son La, has proactively advised the province on developing plans with clear tasks and steps for relevant agencies, investors of component projects, and more. They have also been monitoring and reporting on the project’s weekly progress, coordinating to propose solutions for urging faster implementation, and promptly addressing any difficulties and bottlenecks. Their efforts include reviewing the needs for construction materials, connections, waste disposal sites, land-use conversion, and conducting preliminary surveys and verification of land origins, all of which contribute to accelerating the project’s progress toward the expected commencement in late July this year.

“The Department of Transportation has also actively advised the Son La Provincial People’s Committee to propose to the Prime Minister to include the Hoa Binh – Moc Chau Expressway project in the list of key projects and implement a pilot mechanism delegating the local government as the main implementing agency,” Mr. Chinh added. “In the next phase, we will focus on completing the post-feasibility design dossiers to ensure timely approval. Secondly, we will closely monitor, urge, and supervise the site clearance process to ensure that the construction site is ready when the project commences,” he emphasized.

The Hoa Binh – Moc Chau expressway section in Son La province has a length of 32.3 km and a total investment of over VND 4,900 billion. Its starting point connects to the end of the Hoa Binh – Moc Chau expressway (in Chieng Yen commune, Van Ho district, Son La) and the endpoint intersects with National Highway 43 at Phieng Luong commune, Moc Chau district (Son La). This route holds particular significance, and upon completion, it will contribute to alleviating the congestion on National Highway 6, which currently serves as the sole connection from the capital city of Hanoi to the northwestern provinces, including Son La. The new expressway will boost economic development, ensure national defense and security, and bring about a breakthrough in the socio-economic landscape of Son La province and the entire northwestern region of Vietnam.

The expressway has been approved by the Prime Minister and included in the Road Network Plan for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision toward 2050. Thus far, the project has received approval for its investment policy from the Son La Provincial People’s Council through Resolution No. 299/NQ-HĐND dated March 10, 2024. The project is divided into three component projects, including two site clearance projects in Moc Chau and Van Ho districts, under the management of their respective People’s Committees, and one transport infrastructure construction project managed by the Provincial Traffic Project Management Board.