Real Estate

Vietnam Surpasses Target, Completing Over 3,000km of Expressways

At the Government's regular press conference in December, held on the afternoon of January 8th, Mr. Nguyen Tri Duc, Chief of Office and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Construction, addressed questions regarding the causes and lessons learned in the development of transportation infrastructure, particularly the goal of 3,000 kilometers of highways. He attributed the achievements to the convergence of political determination, special mechanisms, and a flexible, resolute implementation approach.

Administrator

9 January, 2026

Mr. Nguyen Tri Duc, Chief of Office and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Construction, addresses the press conference – Photo: VGP

According to Mr. Nguyen Tri Duc, the 13th National Party Congress identified the development of a synchronized and modern infrastructure system as one of the three strategic breakthroughs, with transportation infrastructure playing a pivotal role. During the 2021-2025 period, the National Assembly and the Government allocated significant resources to comprehensively invest in all five transportation sectors, focusing on national projects, large-scale initiatives, and regional connectivity, particularly the North-South Eastern Expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau.

The Government also issued resolutions and action programs, setting a target of approximately 3,000 km of highways by the end of 2025. By 2020, the expressway network had only reached 1,163 km, meaning an additional minimum of 1,837 km needed to be completed within five years—an enormous task.

Unblocking Bottlenecks with Special Mechanisms

The implementation process, especially for the North-South Eastern Expressway, faced numerous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, institutional hurdles, prolonged land clearance, and shortages and price fluctuations of construction materials.

To overcome these obstacles, the National Assembly and the Government approved a series of special mechanisms, including parallel implementation of stages, selective tendering where necessary, assigning local authorities as project management units, direct allocation of material sources to contractors, and increased mining capacity.

Notably, the State Steering Committee for Key National Projects and Programs in the Transport Sector, chaired by the Prime Minister, was established to hold regular and emergency meetings to promptly address bottlenecks. In 2025 alone, the Prime Minister formed seven working groups to directly inspect and supervise projects, while launching the “500 Days and Nights” competition campaign at key construction sites.

After five years of implementation, the 2021-2025 term completed and opened 2,182 km of highways. By the end of 2025, the country had put into operation approximately 3,345 km of main expressway lines, along with 458 km of interchanges and connecting roads, surpassing the Government’s 3,000 km target.

Significantly, the entire North-South Expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau was opened to traffic in line with the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, creating a continuous North-South connection axis, enhancing transport capacity, and boosting the economy’s competitiveness.

Lessons Learned for the Next Phase

Based on implementation experience, the Ministry of Construction emphasizes that the most important lesson is to prioritize resources for key infrastructure projects, avoiding scattered investments. Simultaneously, institutional frameworks must be improved, bottlenecks promptly resolved, and decentralization and local authority accountability strengthened.

Additionally, harnessing the collective strength of the entire political system, public consensus, and the responsibility of officials, investors, and contractors is crucial. For large-scale projects, multi-level steering committees are essential to ensure consistent leadership and prevent responsibility avoidance.

The spirit of labor competition, “3 shifts, 4 teams” construction organization, application of science and technology, and technical innovation also contribute to shortening timelines, reducing costs, and improving investment efficiency.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tri Duc, when institutions are streamlined, policies are flexible, resources are mobilized effectively, and societal unity is harnessed, transportation projects will continue to be a vital driver of growth, contributing to the nation’s development goals in the coming period.

Tung Phong

– 18:58 08/01/2026