“Vietnam’s Super Highway”: A $760 Million Project: One Meter Costs $14 Million – Must Be Completed Before Long Thanh Airport

“Super Highway” is the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, a nearly 54-kilometer-long highway designed with a scale of 4-6 lanes and a total investment of VND 17,800 billion.

With this investment, each meter of the road is equivalent to a cost of VND 329.63 million. Of course, the figure of 330 million is just a way of speaking to somewhat easier visualization because, in reality, the construction cost also includes many other items.

In a meeting on March 20, 2025, with the Ministry of Construction and Transport, the People’s Committees of Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and Ho Chi Minh City, the Prime Minister requested that the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway be completed before the Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational.

The Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway is an important transport infrastructure project, playing a crucial role in connecting Binh Duong and Dong Nai with Cai Mep – Thi Vai port, as well as linking the expressway system and Long Thanh International Airport with coastal economic zones, promoting trade and economic development in the region towards sustainability, and contributing to social development and environmental protection.

1. Social and Environmental Contributions

The Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway brings numerous social benefits, contributing to improving the quality of life and promoting social equity, an important aspect of sustainable development.

– Reducing Traffic Pollution: The expressway helps reduce travel time and distance, thereby lowering fuel consumption and emissions from vehicles.

For example, reducing the travel distance by 30-50 kilometers on the old routes can cut down CO2 emissions by approximately 78,183 to 130,305 tons per year, equivalent to eliminating the emissions of tens of thousands of vehicle trips per day. [This data is based on estimated traffic volume and the average emission rate of trucks and cars].

This improvement in air quality is especially beneficial for densely populated areas such as Bien Hoa and Long Thanh.

– Enhancing Quality of Life: Shorter travel times save time for residents, improve labor productivity, and increase access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.

Local communities in areas like Long Thanh, Nhon Trach, and Vung Tau will benefit from increased economic activities, such as the development of supporting services along the route (restaurants, gas stations, repair services, etc.)

2. Economic Contributions

The Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway is expected to have far-reaching economic impacts, contributing to sustainable development by enhancing connectivity and economic efficiency.

– Reducing Travel Time and Transportation Costs: The expressway significantly reduces travel time between Bien Hoa (Dong Nai) and Vung Tau (Ba Ria – Vung Tau) from about 2-2.5 hours to approximately 1-1.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

According to the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Newspaper, this leads to a reduction in logistics costs, which is particularly important for industries and seaports in Vung Tau – one of the largest seaport centers in Vietnam, handling about 40% of the country’s container cargo (as reported by the Vietnam Ports Association).

Lower transportation costs also mean improved competitiveness for import-export businesses, thereby boosting the region’s economic growth.

– Promoting Trade and Investment: The expressway facilitates the connection between large industrial parks in Dong Nai (such as Long Thanh and Nhon Trach) and Cai Mep – Thi Vai port in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, one of the deepest seaports in Southeast Asia.

This project is expected to attract more investors to the industrial parks, especially in high-tech manufacturing, logistics, and renewable energy sectors. The increased trade activities will also generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, from construction to the operation of related services (rest stops, transport services, etc.)

– Boosting Tourism: According to the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Tourism Department, Vung Tau is a famous tourist destination attracting over 15 million visitors annually. The expressway will provide easier access from Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai to Vung Tau, promoting beach tourism, resorts, and related services such as hotels and restaurants. This will not only increase revenue but also create sustainable economic opportunities through the development of eco-tourism and cultural tourism.