The Vidifi, Deo Ca, Son Hai Trio: Racing to Expand Vietnam’s North-South Expressway

Following the Deo Ca Group and Son Hai Group, Vidifi is the next official contender.

Vidifi aspires to be chosen by the government as the investor for the expansion of the North-South Expressway Eastern Cluster, prioritizing the northern section (including the Mai Son-National Highway 45, National Highway 45-Nghi Son, Nghi Son-Dien Chau, Bai Vot-Ham Nghi, Ham Nghi-Vung Ang, and Vung Ang-Bung segments) with a total length of approximately 300 km and an investment of VND 45,375 billion, utilizing the PPP model (or other methods decided by authorized agencies)

“If appointed as the investor, Vidifi, together with its joint venture partners, commits to executing the project with the best quality and progress, proactively arranging capital, and not requiring direct support from the state budget,” the company stated in its proposal.

Vidifi’s management revealed that they have worked and agreed with the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) to jointly contribute capital to form an investor consortium for the project if the government entrusts them with the task.

SCIC possesses substantial financial strength and is responsible for managing and investing state capital in numerous enterprises. The Prime Minister has also assigned SCIC to prioritize investing in infrastructure sectors.

In addition to its collaboration with SCIC, Vidifi is also in the process of seeking, negotiating, and agreeing with other capable and suitable investors to join the consortium for project implementation if Vidifi is appointed as the investor.

Thus, if Vidifi is appointed as the investor for this project, VDB is ready to mobilize, arrange capital, and provide credit to create the best conditions for VIDIFI to successfully implement the project as stipulated.

Previously, Vidifi was assigned by the Prime Minister as the investor for the Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway project, with VDB responsible for capital mobilization and credit provision. The total investment for this project was approximately VND 44,818 billion.

Currently, the Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway has been completed and put into operation since 2015. After 10 years of exploitation, although traffic volume has increased significantly compared to the initial period, the road quality remains excellent, and the route is still considered one of the best in Vietnam.

With Vidifi’s proposal to invest in the expansion of the North-South Expressway Eastern Cluster, the number of large enterprises expressing interest has increased to three, including Deo Ca and Son Hai, demonstrating the immense appeal of these strategic transport infrastructure projects.

While most of the public investment projects have been commenced or are under construction, the subsequent expansion projects are expected to strongly promote the PPP model to reduce the burden on the state budget and enhance the role of the private sector in infrastructure development.

The Deo Ca Group, a powerhouse in BOT transportation projects, has impressed with its cross-sea, tunnel, and central expressway projects and has swiftly expressed interest in the expansion segments.

Similarly, the Son Hai Group, renowned for its superior construction quality in numerous large projects, is also seizing the opportunity to make its mark in the new phase of the North-South Expressway.

According to the Ministry of Construction, the entire North-South Expressway Eastern Cluster has a total length of 2,063 km and is planned to have 6-12 lanes. However, 1,163 km are currently being invested in or operated with only four limited lanes (a road width of 17 m), which is no longer suitable for the rapidly increasing transport demand.

In reality, many sections have experienced congestion, especially during peak periods. Expanding to a complete six-lane road is essential to ensure the efficient operation of the expressway system, enhance transport capacity, and promote regional connectivity.

The government has repeatedly emphasized its encouragement of private enterprises to invest in the expansion segments using the PPP model. However, the investor selection process must be cautious, transparent, and ensure overall efficiency—from quality and progress to capital attraction and long-term operational capacity.

If properly implemented, this will be a model for public-private partnership in Vietnam’s infrastructure development, contributing to the realization of the goal of having 5,000 km of expressways by 2030—an essential foundation for sustainable economic development and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.