Investments

Accelerating Toll Booth and Rest Stop Construction on the North-South Expressway

The implementation progress of the ITS system, toll stations, and weigh-in-motion stations on the North-South Expressway is currently lagging, posing a significant risk to the planned toll collection schedule starting in 2026.

Administrator

5 November, 2025

Rest stops along the North-South Expressway are significantly behind schedule.

According to the Construction Economics and Investment Management Department, four out of five sub-projects in the North-South Expressway phase 2017-2020 are delayed by 4% to 14.8% compared to the plan, with completion expected by late October 2025.

All Contracts Are Lagging

Specifically, the Mai Sơn-National Highway 45 section has reached approximately 88% completion, lagging 12% due to land clearance issues at the Thiệu Giang intersection; the National Highway 45-Nghi Sơn section is at 85.2%, delayed 14.8% by weak soil treatment and land clearance challenges at the Nghi Sơn intersection; the Nghi Sơn-Diễn Châu section is at 90%, behind by 10%; and the Vĩnh Hảo-Phan Thiết section is at 96%, delayed 4% due to slow land clearance for turnaround lanes at three intersections (Ma Lâm, Đại Ninh, and Chợ Lầu).

To date, equipment supply packages for the National Highway 45-Nghi Sơn, Nghi Sơn-Diễn Châu, and Phan Thiết-Dầu Giây sub-projects have imported and assembled 100% of the equipment; the remaining two sub-projects have imported and assembled 90-98% of the equipment.

Currently, contractors for the Nghi Sơn-Diễn Châu, Vĩnh Hảo-Phan Thiết, and Phan Thiết-Dầu Giây sub-projects are installing equipment on-site; the Mai Sơn-National Highway 45 and National Highway 45-Nghi Sơn sub-projects are still cabling and have not yet installed equipment.

For the 12 sub-projects in the 2021-2025 phase of the North-South Expressway, progress is significantly slower than directed by the Ministry of Construction, despite contractor selection and groundbreaking having been completed.

Three sub-projects—Vũng Áng-Bùng, Bùng-Vạn Ninh, and Quảng Ngãi-Hoài Nhơn—have started construction (75 days behind schedule); 9/12 are expected to complete contractor selection between October 31 and November 20, 2025 (90-110 days late). The shared software package completed bidding on September 30, 2025 (60 days late).

Additionally, the front-end and back-end toll systems and the electronic traffic payment database management system opened bidding on October 21, selected contractors on October 28, and signed contracts on October 31, 2025 (90 days late).

The Construction Economics and Investment Management Department holds project management directors accountable to the Minister if the systems are not completed by December 31, 2025.

Deadlines Must Be Met by Year-End

To accelerate progress, the Construction Economics and Investment Management Department requires project management boards to expedite construction packages; the Thăng Long Project Management Board must collaborate with relevant units to review and supplement toll station designs (if necessary) to address issues caused by the delayed design and construction of toll stations on the Cao Bồ-Mai Sơn section; and contractors must urgently install equipment on-site.

Project management boards must review and establish comprehensive and detailed construction schedules for each package and task, implementing solutions to accelerate construction and compensate for delays. Construction packages must be completed by November 30, and equipment and software packages by December 31, 2025. Priority is given to completing the toll system to ensure operation from January 1, 2026.

For packages exceeding budget, project management boards must urgently address bidding issues per regulations to ensure timely contractor selection and contract signing. The Construction Economics and Investment Management Department, Vietnam Road Administration, and Information Technology Center will support project management boards in reviewing package prices and tender documents (if necessary) to manage budget overruns.

For the Vạn Ninh-Cam Lộ sub-project, the Hồ Chí Minh City Project Management Board must collaborate with relevant units to review and adjust toll station designs (if necessary) to address issues caused by the delayed design and construction of toll stations on the Cam Lộ-La Sơn section.

According to Decision No. 1252/QĐ – XD, the Minister of Construction approved the Asset Exploitation Plan for the Hòa Liên – Túy Loan Expressway and the Eastern North-South Expressway sections under the Ministry’s management for 2021-2025.

The exploitation method involves the asset management agency directly managing and operating the road infrastructure assets; the exploitation period is 7 years from the start of toll collection.

The Ministry of Construction has tasked the Vietnam Road Administration with organizing and managing toll collection in accordance with current laws.

After completing infrastructure investment, constructing toll stations, installing toll equipment, implementing the Back-End system, and establishing service facilities at rest stops and technical infrastructure for traffic management, the Vietnam Road Administration will organize toll collection and manage the process as per Decree No. 130/2024/NĐ-CP dated October 10, 2024, the Law on Bidding, and other relevant laws. Toll collection is expected to begin by Q1 2026.

Previously, the Minister of Construction issued Decision No. 496/QĐ-BXD approving the Asset Exploitation Plan for the Mai Sơn – National Highway 45, National Highway 45 – Nghi Sơn, Nghi Sơn – Diễn Châu, Vĩnh Hảo – Phan Thiết, and Phan Thiết – Dầu Giây sections under the Ministry’s management, with toll collection starting from January 1, 2026.