Vietnam’s Road Administration proposes adding three new expressways to the 2021–2030 road network plan with a 2050 horizon

Vietnam's Directorate for Roads has submitted to the Ministry of Construction a mid-term adjustment to the 2021–2030 road network plan, with a horizon to 2050, in which three new expressways are proposed: Lang Son – Thai Nguyen – Tuyen Quang – Yen Bai – Son La; Phan Thiet – Bao Loc – Gia Nghia; and Viet Tri – Hoa Binh. All three expressways are planned to be invested before 2030 and will be built to four lanes. The Lang Son–Thai Nguyen–Tuyen Quang–Yen Bai–Son La expressway, about 378 km long, will be configured as a northern belt expressway. It connects the administrative centers of the provinces with border regions and links the Tan Thanh (Lang Son) and Chiêng Khương (Son La) international border gates, forming a cross-border transport corridor. The submission notes that the addition stems from sharply rising freight demand along the East–West corridor in the northern area, as existing routes become overloaded and connectivity capacity is constrained. The route is expected to unlock new development space for industry, logistics, and urban areas along the corridor. The Phan Thiet–Bao Loc–Gia Nghia expressway, about 141 km long, is also proposed with four lanes. It is viewed as a key axis for the East–West economic corridor, strengthening links between the South Central Highlands and the southern coastal region and the southern economic development zone. Upon completion, the route will effectively connect the Tây Nguyên region with Bình Thuận and Ba Rịa–Vũng Tàu ports, as well as Phan Thiet and Long Thành airports. It will also boost the capacity to transport bauxite ore, alumina and agricultural products from Tây Nguyên to export ports, reducing logistics costs and shortening transport times. The Viet Tri–Hoa Binh expressway, about 55 km long, with four lanes, is expected to improve the utilization of existing expressways such as the Bắc–Nam phía Đông, Bắc–Nam phía Tây, and Nội Bài–Lào Cai, by forming an integrated network and rational traffic distribution. According to the planning authority, the Viet Tri–Hoa Binh route will also spur the development of industrial belts, urban areas, and services around Việt Trì and neighboring towns, expanding development space, attracting investment, and advancing the economy’s industrialization and modernization. If approved, the three new expressways would raise the total length of the proposed additions in this adjustment to nearly 574 km, creating additional space for strategic infrastructure development and strengthening regional connectivity nationwide.