National Mega-Highway Project: 60km, $1 Billion, 9 Communities, Construction Begins 2024

The Vietnamese government has submitted a pre-feasibility study report to the National Assembly for the Vinh – Thanh Thuy Expressway project. This strategic highway is expected to establish a vital connection between Vietnam and Laos, contributing to the East-West Expressway network. It will link with major north-south routes, including the North-South Expressway, Ho Chi Minh Highway, National Highway 1, and the coastal road.

The expressway will commence at the intersection with the North-South Expressway’s eastern section in Dien Chau – Bai Vot (Hung Nguyen commune, Nghe An province) and terminate at the Thanh Thuy Border Gate Economic Zone, adjacent to the Thanh Thuy – Nam On border crossing with Laos. Spanning approximately 60 kilometers, the route traverses nine communes: Hung Nguyen, Kim Lien, Dai Hue, Van An, Nam Dan, Xuan Lam, Hoa Quan, Son Lam, and Kim Bang.

Designed with a four-lane capacity, the expressway will have a road width ranging from 22 to 24.75 meters. In challenging terrain and overpass sections, a six-lane standard will be applied to ensure a design speed of 100 km/h in favorable conditions and 80 km/h in more difficult areas.

The preliminary total investment is nearly VND 24 trillion, covering construction, equipment, land acquisition, resettlement, and contingency costs. The government proposes public investment and is exploring state capital recovery options once the expressway becomes operational.

To comply with legal requirements and expedite land acquisition, the government suggests dividing the project into ten sub-projects. The main component, focusing on expressway construction, accounts for over VND 21 trillion, while the remainder addresses land clearance in the nine affected communes.

The final 20 kilometers of the Vinh – Thanh Thuy Expressway pass through extremely challenging terrain with steep longitudinal and transverse slopes. Several sections are located within protected forests, requiring forest land-use conversion procedures and the construction of elevated bridges with pillars exceeding 50 meters in height. Access to land, material transportation, and equipment assembly in this area are deemed “very difficult.”

Given these challenges, the government proposes special mechanisms for the project, including exemptions from capital source evaluation and balancing as per the Public Investment Law. It also seeks permission for direct procurement of all project packages, following legal bidding procedures.

If approved, the project is scheduled for investment policy approval in 2025, with the feasibility study report finalized by Q2 2026. Construction is slated to begin in Q3 2026, with substantial completion by 2028 and operation commencing in 2029.