Gigantic highway project: expanded 22 kilometers faster for Ho Chi Minh!

Gigantic highway project: expanded 22 kilometers faster for Ho Chi Minh!

In Dong Nai Province, the Provincial People's Committee approved the need to invest in the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh Expressway Expansion Project. The aim of this initiative is to create an efficient connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh International Airport, which will play an essential role in the country's transport system once operational. To this end, the People's Committee requests the Ministry of Finance to advise the Prime Minister on how to do so in accordance with the provisions of the Public Investment Law of 2024 and the Construction Law of 2014 vietnam.vn reported.

On May 18, 2025, a document was sent from the Ministry of Finance to various ministries as well as the People's Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province. The proposal to approve the expansion project comes from Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), which has been recognized as a suitable investor for the project. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has submitted a report to the Government Standing Committee highlighting the advantages of engaging VEC, in particular the use of state-owned companies' resources and the resulting consistency in the operation of the motorway.

Project details

The expressway expansion will stretch for nearly 22 kilometers. The starting point is at km 4+000 (Ring Road 2 junction) in Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, and the ending point is at km 25+920 (Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway junction) in Long Thanh District, Dong Nai Province. The section from the Ringstrasse 2 intersection to the Ringstrasse 3 intersection (km 4+000 to km 8+770) will be expanded to 8 lanes. The second section, from Ring Road 3 junction to Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway (km 8+770 to km 25+920), will be designed with 10 lanes.

The construction of a new bridge unit with 10 lanes is planned for the Long Thanh Bridge. The total investment of the project is estimated at more than VND 15 trillion, with the cost split between several financing methods: VND 5.555 trillion will come from equity, while VND 9.400 trillion will be covered by commercial loans. VEC will secure the 100% of the investment capital and the tolls will serve as the main source of revenue to recover the costs.

Construction times and challenges

The preparatory phase of the project is planned from 2024 to 2025, with construction starting on August 19, 2025 and targeted completion in 2026. If the project is implemented as an emergency construction measure, the time until construction begins could be shortened by 2.5 months. This flexibility in timing could play a crucial role in the realization of the project, as it could ensure faster access to Long Thanh International Airport.

The land clearance is considered an independent project and is expected to be funded by the central and local governments of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai. Cooperation between the various institutions and the efficient management of resources play a central role in the success of this expansion.