Expressways of Vietnam

Expressway network of Vietnam
System information
Length	1,276 km[1] (793 mi)
Highway names

Hanoi–Ninh Bình Expressway, part of the North–South Expressway

The Expressway network of Vietnam is a recent addition to the transport network of Vietnam. The first expressways were opened in the mid-2000s, by 2020, the expressway network is expected to stretch 1,276 kilometres (793 mi) and plans are for over 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi) of expressway by 2030.^[1]

Development[]

Toll booth in Ninh Bình

Expressways are a rather recent addition to the Vietnamese road network, and standardization has not been fully implemented. Ownership varies by expressway, they are financed, developed, owned and operated by either state-owned or private companies on behalf of the Ministry of Transport.^[2] For example, state-owned Vietnam Expressway Corporation owns and exploits four expressways,^[3] but toll collection is done by subcontracted companies. The companies exploiting the expressways have to report traffic numbers and toll revenue to the Ministry of Transport and the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.^[4] This construction has been subject of fraud investigations several times, as toll revenue was falsified by the collecting companies in order to take advantage of the difference.^[5] The government has also threatened operating companies to revoke their toll collection licence after lack of maintenance caused dangerous situations on several expressways.^[6] In 2019 it was reported that the Vietnam Expressway Corporation was $3.7 billion USD in debt, and earning $137 million in revenue each year.^[7]

The total cost of the planned expressway network is estimated at $47.9 billion.^[8] Lack of funding has been an issue throughout the development of the expressway network, with both the government and private investors having difficulty in raising the required investment costs.^[9][10]

In 2019, the Ministry of Transport decided to exclude foreign investors from bidding on the North-South expressway, mainly to prevent Chinese companies from participating. Public backslash was feared if Chinese companies would collect toll fees, due to strong anti-Chinese sentiment in the country, and national security concerns played a part as well.^[11][12] However, lack of bidders has led to low competition between the bids, ^[13] and two out of five sections had not attracted any bids.^[14]

In 2020, Minister of Planning and Investment petitioned to the National Assembly to switch development of the remaining sections of the North–South expressway to state funding instead of build-operate-transfer contracts, in order to avoid delays in raising capital and to reduce interest amount. He noted that Chinese provinces Yunnan and Guangxi built 2,000 kilometres (1,243 mi) of expressways in three years, whereas 1,300 kilometres (808 mi) of planned expressway in Vietnam should have been completed decades ago. If public funding would be approved, construction on the sections Vĩnh Hảo (vi)–Phan Thiết, Mai Son (Ninh Bình)–Highway 45 (Thanh Hóa) and Phan Thiết–Dầu Giây (connection to Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway) would start in 2021.^[15]

A new draft plan is for 2,542 km (1,580 mi) of new expressways to be completed before 2025 and an additional 1,339 km (832 mi) for before 2030.^[16]

Expressway use[]

Vietnam Expressway sign

Generally all cars, buses and trucks are permitted on the expressway but công nông (agricultural vehicles) and most notably all types motorcycles are not.^[17]

A minimum speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) is generally in effect, and the maximum speed is 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph), although sections with a lower maximum speed are common.

List of Expressways[]

Number	Name	Length	Notes
CT.01	North–South Expressway	1,811 kilometres (1,125 mi)[18]	Circa 230 km completed
CT.02	North–South Expressway West	1,269 kilometres (789 mi)[18]	Completed between Cao Lãnh and Rạch Sỏi
CT.03		130 kilometres (81 mi)[8]	Completed between Hanoi and Mai Sao. Will connect to China's G7211. Funding phase for Lạng Sơn-Friendship Pass.[19]
CT.03	Dong Dang–Tra Linh Expressway	115 kilometres (71 mi)[20][21]	Construction started in 2020[22][23] Will connect to China's G69.
CT.04	Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway	106 kilometres (66 mi)[18]	Fully opened
CT.05	Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway	265 kilometres (165 mi)[18]	Connects to China's G8011. Complete between Hanoi Noi Bai Airport and the border with China
CT.06	Noi Bai–Ha Long-Mong Cai Expressway	304 kilometres (189 mi)[18]
CT.07	Hanoi–Thai Nguyen Expressway	69 kilometres (43 mi)[18]	Fully completed
CT.08	Hanoi–Hoa Binh Expressway	56 kilometres (35 mi)[18]	Completed between Hanoi and
CT.09	Ninh Binh–Hai Phong–Quang Ninh Expressway	160 kilometres (99 mi)[18]	Completed between Haiphong and Van Don
CT.10	Hong Linh-Huong Son Expressway	34 kilometres (21 mi)[24]
CT.11	Cam Lo–Lao Bao expressway	70 kilometres (43 mi)[24]
CT.12	Quy Nhon-Pleiku Expressway	160 kilometres (99 mi)[24]
CT.13	Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway	76 kilometres (47 mi)[18]	Funding phase
CT.14	Dau Giay-Dalat Expressway	209 kilometres (130 mi)[8]	Completed between Lien Khuong and Pass Prenn (Da Lat)
CT.15	Thu Dau Mot–Chon Thanh Expressway	69 kilometres (43 mi)[24]
CT.16		53.5 kilometres (33.2 mi)[25]	Will connect to Cambodia's (E4) Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, parallels
CT.17	Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway	155 kilometres (96 mi)[26]	Construction to start in 2023[26]
CT.18	Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway	225 kilometres (140 mi)[24]	Construction to begin in 2024[27]
CT.19	Can Tho–Ca Mau Expressway	150 kilometres (93 mi)[8]	Construction to start in 2021[28]
CT.20	Hanoi Belt 3	65 kilometres (40 mi)[18]	Fully completed
CT.21	Hanoi Ring 4	136.6 kilometres (84.9 mi)[18]
CT.22	Ho Chi Minh City Ring 3	97.7 kilometres (60.7 mi)[18]
CT.		28 kilometres (17 mi)[29]	Parallels , construction to start in 2021.[30]

See also[]

• Transport in Vietnam

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

Website of the Ministry of Transport