Vietnam’s Most Populous City to Begin Construction on $900 Million Highway Expansion, Aiming to Alleviate Northeast Gateway Congestion

As planned, the expansion project of National Highway 13 falls under the category of upgrading existing roads through a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model. The 6-kilometer route stretches from Binh Trieu Bridge to Vinh Binh, including the connecting section in the former Binh Duong province.

The project aims to expand the road from 4–6 lanes to 10 lanes, with a width of 60 meters. It also includes green corridors and technical infrastructure along both sides. Notably, a 3.2-kilometer elevated bridge with 4 lanes will be constructed in the middle, flanked by parallel roads to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance flow.

The total investment is nearly 21 trillion VND, with the city’s budget contributing over 14.6 trillion VND for Component 1 (compensation, support, and resettlement). The remaining 6.3 trillion VND will be arranged by the investor for Component 2 (upgrading and expansion). Upon completion, the investor is expected to recover costs through tolls over 18 years and 4 months.

According to the timeline proposed by the Department of Construction, by Q4/2025, the city will finalize, appraise, and approve the feasibility study report for Component 2. Subsequently, in the first two quarters of 2026, Ho Chi Minh City will conduct bidding to select investors, with construction expected to commence in Q4/2026 and completion within approximately 2 years.

Regarding land clearance, the project is expected to affect around 1,055 households and organizations, with over 200 households requiring complete relocation. According to the People’s Committee of Hiep Binh Ward, where the road passes through, the locality has completed measurements and verification of all affected land files, with over 830 files confirmed. Compensation payments for land recovery cases are scheduled to begin in December.

National Highway 13, spanning over 140 kilometers, connects Ho Chi Minh City through Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc (former). It is a vital artery in the northeastern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City, passing through densely populated areas and linking to the former Eastern Bus Station and the inner city, often causing severe congestion. Recently, traffic jams have worsened due to the upgrading of Binh Trieu Bridge.

Alongside National Highway 13, Ho Chi Minh City is also accelerating three other BOT projects to upgrade existing roads, including National Highway 1, National Highway 22, and the North-South Axis, to enhance inter-regional transportation networks and reduce pressure on gateway infrastructure.