Expressways of Vietnam

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]

Expressway network of Vietnam
System information
Length1,276 km[1] (793 mi)
Highway names
Hanoi-Ninh Binh Expressway, part of the North-South Expressway

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 Nguyễn Chí Dũng 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 Thiet, Mai Son (Ninh Bình) - Highway 45 (Thanh Hóa) and Phan Thiết - Dau Giay (connection to Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway) would start in 2021.[15]

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.[16]

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)[17]
CT.02 North–South Expressway West 1,269 kilometres (789 mi)[17] Cao Lãnh - Rạch Sỏi section opened
CT.03 Hanoi-Lang Son Expressway 130 kilometres (81 mi)[8] Completed between Hanoi and Mai Sao. Will connect to China's G7211.

Funding phase for Lạng Sơn-Friendship Pass.[18]

CT.04 Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway 106 kilometres (66 mi)[17] Fully opened
CT.05 Hanoi-Lao Cai Expressway 265 kilometres (165 mi)[17] 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)[17]
CT.07 Hanoi–Thai Nguyen Expressway 69 kilometres (43 mi)[17] Fully completed
CT.08 Hanoi–Hoa Binh Expressway 56 kilometres (35 mi)[17] Completed between Hanoi and QL.21
CT.09 Ninh Binh–Hai Phong–Quang Ninh Expressway 160 kilometres (99 mi)[17] Completed between Haiphong and Van Don
CT.10 Hong Linh-Huong Son Expressway 34 kilometres (21 mi)[19]
CT.11 Cam Lo–Lao Bao expressway 70 kilometres (43 mi)[19]
CT.12 Quy Nhon-Pleiku Expressway 160 kilometres (99 mi)[19]
CT.13 Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway 76 kilometres (47 mi)[17] Reboot investing
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)[19]
CT.16 Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway 53.5 kilometres (33.2 mi)[20] Will connect to Cambodia's Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway (E4), parallels
CT.17 Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway 155 kilometres (96 mi)[21] Construction to start in 2023[21]
CT.18 Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway 225 kilometres (140 mi)[19] Construction to begin in 2024[22]
CT.19 Can Tho–Ca Mau Expressway 150 kilometres (93 mi)[8] Construction to start in 2021[23]
CT.20 Hanoi Belt 3 65 kilometres (40 mi)[17] Fully completed
CT.21 Hanoi Ring 4 136.6 kilometres (84.9 mi)[17]
CT.22 Ho Chi Minh City Ring 3 97.7 kilometres (60.7 mi)[17]
Dong Dang–Tra Linh Expressway 115 kilometres (71 mi)[24][25] Construction started in 2020[26][27]

Will connect to China's G69.

An Huu–Cau Lanh Expressway 28 kilometres (17 mi)[28] Parallels , construction to start in 2021.[29]

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "Vietnam to have more than 7,000km of expressways | Business | Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus)". VietnamPlus. September 12, 2018.
    2. "Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway". www.roadtraffic-technology.com.
    3. Giang Dang; Low Sui Pheng (18 October 2014). Infrastructure Investments in Developing Economies: The Case of Vietnam. Springer. p. 109. ISBN 978-981-287-248-7.
    4. "Vietnam Expressway Corporation explains about loss of expressway tolls". VietnamPlus. February 13, 2019.
    5. "Nine investigated for toll road fraud". vietnamnews.vn.
    6. "Expressway maintenance failing to keep up". vietnamnews.vn.
    7. "State-owned expressway builder weighed down by debt". VnExpress International.
    8. Bui Dinh Tuan (September 2013). "Report On Viet Nam Expressway Development Plan" (PDF). Viet Nam Expressway Operation and Maintenance Limited Liability Company.
    9. "Vietnam lacks funding for new expressway: Finance Ministry". VnExpress International.
    10. "North-South Expressway faces lack of funds". VietNamNet.
    11. "The China factor in Vietnam's infrastructure development dilemma". South China Morning Post. October 11, 2019.
    12. "North-South Expressway bids open only to Vietnamese investors". VnExpress International.
    13. "Vietnam rules out foreign investors for 8 North-South Expressway sections". VnExpress International.
    14. "No bidders for two North-South Expressway sections". VnExpress International.
    15. "Một tỉnh Trung Quốc 3 năm làm 2.000km cao tốc, Việt Nam 35 năm hơn 400km". Tuổi Trẻ. June 9, 2020.
    16. "Motorbikes entering expressways in Vietnam could be confiscated". Tuoi Tre News. 27 February 2015.
    17. "Danh sách các tuyến đường cao tốc Việt Nam hiện nay". Danh sách các tuyến đường cao tốc Việt Nam hiện nay.
    18. "Ministry to ask government to fund part of Hanoi – China border expressway". VnExpress International.
    19. "Report On Viet Nam Expressway Development Plan" (PDF). Ministry of Transport.
    20. "Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai Expressway a driving force in southeast Vietnam". Tuoi Tre News (in Vietnamese). 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
    21. "7 expressway projects expected to boost Mekong Delta connectivity". 10 October 2020.
    22. "Mekong Delta expressway construction to begin in 2024". VnExpress International.
    23. "PM Phuc approves $2bln expressway linking Can Tho and Southernmost Ca Mau province". e.nhipcaudautu.vn.
    24. "Vietnam to build expressway linking two provinces on China border". VnExpress International.
    25. "Cao tốc Lạng Sơn - Cao Bằng dài 115 km được trình Chính phủ". vnexpress.net.
    26. "Vietnam approves $905 mln expressway linking two border provinces". VnExpress International.
    27. "Work begins on VND21 trillion Dong Dang - Tra Linh Highway". Nhân Dân. 2020-10-03.
    28. "Hơn 5.500 tỷ đồng làm tuyến cao tốc An Hữu - Cao Lãnh" [More than 5,500 billion VND for the An Huu - Cao Lanh expressway]. Vnexpress. October 14, 2019.
    29. Cuu Long (October 14, 2019). "Work to start on $237-million southern expressway in 2021". Vnexpress.

    Website of the Ministry of Transport

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