The Expressway network of Vietnam is a recent addition to the transport network of Vietnam. The first expressways were opened in the early-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 (Hệ thống đường cao tốc Việt Nam) | |
|---|---|
  Highway shield of the North–South Expressway East and North–South Expressway West | |
 | |
| System information | |
| Maintained by Vietnam Expressway Corp (VEC), Deo Ca Group, Son Hai Group and others | |
| Length | 9,263 km[1] (5,756 mi) |
| Formed | 2002 |
| Highway names | |
| Expressways | Đường Cao Tốc nn (CT.nn) |
| National Roads | Quốc Lộ nn (QL.nn) |
| System links | |
Development
editExpressways 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 operates four expressways,[3] but toll collection is done by subcontracted companies. The companies operating 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 – due to strong anti-Chinese sentiment in the country – was feared if Chinese companies would collect toll fees, as well national security concerns playing a role in this decision.[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 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]
In a 2023 directive, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính instructed the Ministry of Transport to develop expressway design standards, as some of the expressways did not adhere to standards generally followed for expressways such as number of lanes, road width, operating speed and having continuous emergency lanes.[16]
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.[17]
Expressway use
editGenerally all cars, buses, trucks are permitted on the expressway but công nông (agricultural vehicles), motor tricycles, motorcycles, tractors and non-motorized vehicles are not.[18]
A minimum speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) is generally in effect, although there are sections with a minimum speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) in the middle and left lanes. The maximum speed anywhere is 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph), although sections with a lower maximum speed are common.
List of expressways
editExpressways Network planning in 2023
editNorth–South Expressway
edit| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North–South Expressway East | 2,063 kilometres (1,282 mi)[19] | 4–10 | Completed many expressway sections | |
| North–South Expressway West | 1,205 kilometres (749 mi)[19] | 4–6 | Completed many expressway sections |
Northern Regional Expressway
edit| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi–Hoa Binh–Son La–Dien Bien Expressway | 450 kilometres (280 mi)[19] | 4–6 | Completed Hoa Lac-Hoa Binh expressway first stage Completed Thang Long Boulevard expressway section | |
| Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway | 105 kilometres (65 mi)[19] | 6 | Fully opened; formerly National Route 5B | |
| Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway | 264 kilometres (164 mi)[19] | 6 | Fully opened. Connects to China's G8011 by Kim Thanh International Border Gate. | |
| Haiphong–Ha Long–Van Don–Mong Cai Expressway | 175 kilometres (109 mi)[19] | 6 | Fully opened. Connects to China's G7511 by Bac Luan 2 Border Gate. | |
| Hanoi–Thai Nguyen–Bac Kan–Cao Bang Expressway | 227 kilometres (141 mi)[19] | 4–6 | Hanoi–Thai Nguyen section complete | |
| Ninh Binh–Haiphong Expressway | 109 kilometres (68 mi)[19] | 4 | Under construction | |
| Noi Bai–Bac Ninh–Ha Long Expressway | 146 kilometres (91 mi)[19] | 4 | Noi Bai–Bac Ninh section complete | |
| Tien Yen–Lang Son–Cao Bang Expressway | 215 kilometres (134 mi)[19] | 4 | Tan Thanh–Phúc Sen section under construction; Phúc Sen–Trà Lĩnh to begin construction after phase one is complete. Will connect to China's G69 by Tra Linh Border Gate. | |
| Phu Ly–Nam Dinh Expressway | 50 kilometres (31 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Yen Bai–Ha Giang Expressway | 81 kilometres (50 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Bao Ha–Lai Chau Expressway | 203 kilometres (126 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Cho Ben–Yen My Expressway | 45 kilometres (28 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Tuyen Quang–Ha Giang Expressway | 165 kilometres (103 mi)[19] | 4 | Under construction. Will connect to China's G5615 by Thanh Thuy Border Gate. | |
| Hung Yen–Thai Binh Expressway | 70 kilometres (43 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed |
Central Regional Expressway
edit| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinh–Thanh Thuy Expressway | 85 kilometres (53 mi)[19] | 6 | Proposed | |
| Vung Ang–Cha Lo Expressway | 115 kilometres (71 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Cam Lo–Lao Bao Expressway | 70 kilometres (43 mi)[19] | 4 | Funding phase Was CT.11 before 2021 | |
| Quy Nhon–Pleiku–Le Thanh Expressway | 230 kilometres (140 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Da Nang–Thach My–Ngoc Hoi–Bo Y Expressway | 281 kilometres (175 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Quang Nam–Quang Ngai Expressway | 100 kilometres (62 mi) [19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Phu Yen–Dak Lak Expressway | 220 kilometres (140 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Khanh Hoa–Buon Ma Thuot Expressway | 130 kilometres (81 mi)[19] | 4 | Under construction | |
| Nha Trang–Lien Khuong Expressway | 85 kilometres (53 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Lien Khuong–Buon Ma Thuot Expressway | 115 kilometres (71 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Quang Ngai - Kon Tum Expressway | 159 kilometres (99 mi) | 4 | Planned |
Southern Regional Expressway
edit| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dau Giay–Dalat Expressway | 220 kilometres (140 mi)[19] | 4 | Completed between Lien Khuong and Pass Prenn (Da Lat); was CT.14 before 2021 | |
| Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway | 54 kilometres (34 mi)[19] | 6–8 | Under construction; was CT.13 before 2021 | |
| Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway | 55 kilometres (34 mi)[19] | 6–10 | Fully opened | |
| Ho Chi Minh–Chon Thanh–Hoa Lu Expressway | 130 kilometres (81 mi)[19] | 6 | Proposed; was CT.15 before 2021 | |
| Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway | 53.5 kilometres (33.2 mi)[20] | 6 | Will connect to Cambodia's E1 Phnom Penh–Bavet Expressway, parallels QL 22, Funding phase; was CT.16 before 2021 | |
| Go Dau–Xa Mat Expressway | 65 kilometres (40 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Ho Chi Minh City–Tien Giang–Ben Tre–Tra Vinh–Soc Trang Expressway | 150 kilometres (93 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway | 191 kilometres (119 mi)[19] | 6 | Under construction; was CT.17 before 2021 | |
| Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway | 212 kilometres (132 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed | |
| Hong Ngu–Tra Vinh Expressway | 188 kilometres (117 mi)[19] | 4 | Proposed |
Hanoi Ring Road
edit| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi Ring Road 3 | 55 kilometres (34 mi)[19] | 6 | Fully completed; was CT.20 before 2021 | |
| Hanoi Ring Road 4 | 102 kilometres (63 mi)[19] | 6 | Under construction; was CT.21 before 2021 | |
| Hanoi Ring Road 5 | 272 kilometres (169 mi)[19] | 6 | Proposed |
Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road
edit| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 | 92 kilometres (57 mi)[19] | 8 | Completed between Tan Van and Binh Chuan; was CT.22 before 2021 | |
| Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 | 199 kilometres (124 mi)[19] | 8 | Funding phase |
Expressways Network planning in 2015
edit| Number | Name | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| North–South Expressway East | 1,811 kilometres (1,125 mi) | Completed many expressway sections | |
| North–South Expressway West | 1,269 kilometres (789 mi) | Some sections under construction | |
| Hanoi–Cao Bang Expressway | 143 kilometres (89 mi) | Completed Hanoi-Chi Lang (Lang Son) section Hanoi–Chi Lang now part of the CT.01 and Tien Yen–Lang Son–Cao Bang split off to CT.10 | |
| Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway | 106 kilometres (66 mi) | Fully opened | |
| Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway | 264 kilometres (164 mi) | Yen Bai-Lao Cai: phase 1 completed | |
| Noi Bai–Ha Long–Mong Cai Expressway | 304 kilometres (189 mi) | Hanoi-Bac Ninh and Ha Long-Mong Cai sections completed Now part of CT.09 | |
| Hanoi–Thai Nguyen Expressway | 70 kilometres (43 mi) | Hanoi–Thai Nguyen–Cho Moi section complete; Cho Moi–Bac Kan section to begin construction in September 2022 | |
| Thai Nguyen–Bac Kan–Cao Bang Expressway | 43 kilometres (27 mi) | ||
| Hanoi–Hoa Binh Expressway | 56 kilometres (35 mi) | Lang–Hoa Lac complete Hoa Lac–Hoa Binh: phase 1 completed In 2022, lengthened to Dien Bien and renumbered to CT.03 | |
| Ninh Binh–Haiphong–Quang Ninh Expressway | 160 kilometres (99 mi) | Haiphong–Ha Long section completed In 2022, shortened to Haiphong and renumbered to CT.08; Haiphong–Quang Ninh section split off to CT.06 | |
| Hong Linh–Huong Son Expressway | 34 kilometres (21 mi) | ||
| Cam Lo–Lao Bao Expressway | 70 kilometres (43 mi) | Renumbered to CT.19 in 2022 | |
| Quy Nhon–Pleiku Expressway | 160 kilometres (99 mi) | Now part of the CT.20 | |
| Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway | 76 kilometres (47 mi) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.28 in 2022 | |
| Dau Giay–Dalat Expressway | 220 kilometres (140 mi) | Lien Khuong–Pass Prenn (Dalat) complete Dau Giay–Lien Khuong: Investing in building only 4 lanes in September 2023 Renumbered to CT.27 in 2022 | |
| Ho Chi Minh City–Thu Dau Mot–Chon Thanh Expressway | 69 kilometres (43 mi) | Renumbered to CT.30 in 2022 | |
| Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway | 55 kilometres (34 mi) | Renumbered to CT.31 in 2022 | |
| Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway | 200 kilometres (120 mi) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.34 in 2022 | |
| Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway | 225 kilometres (140 mi) | Renumbered to CT.35 | |
| Can Tho–Ca Mau Expressway | 150 kilometres (93 mi) | Under construction Merged into the CT.01 in 2022 | |
| Hanoi Ring Road 3 | 55 kilometres (34 mi) | Renumbered to CT.37 in 2022 | |
| Hanoi Ring Road 4 | 125 kilometres (78 mi) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.38 in 2022 | |
| Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 | 89 kilometres (55 mi) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.40 in 2022 |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Vietnam to have more than 7,000km of expressways". Business. VietnamPlus. 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway". www.roadtraffic-technology.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Vietnam Expressway Corporation explains about loss of expressway tolls". VietnamPlus. 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Nine investigated for toll road fraud". vietnamnews.vn.
- ^ "Expressway maintenance failing to keep up". vietnamnews.vn.
- ^ "State-owned expressway builder weighed down by debt". VnExpress International.
- ^ Bui Dinh Tuan (September 2013). "Report On Viet Nam Expressway Development Plan" (PDF). Viet Nam Expressway Operation and Maintenance Limited Liability Company.
- ^ "Vietnam lacks funding for new expressway: Finance Ministry". VnExpress International.
- ^ "North-South Expressway faces lack of funds". VietNamNet.
- ^ "The China factor in Vietnam's infrastructure development dilemma". South China Morning Post. 11 October 2019.
- ^ "North-South Expressway bids open only to Vietnamese investors". VnExpress International.
- ^ "Vietnam rules out foreign investors for 8 North-South Expressway sections". VnExpress International.
- ^ "No bidders for two North-South Expressway sections". VnExpress International.
- ^ "Một tỉnh Trung Quốc 3 năm làm 2.000km cao tốc, Việt Nam 35 năm hơn 400km". Tuổi Trẻ. 9 June 2020.
- ^ "PM urges development of technical regulations for expressways". VietNamNet News. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Đường cao tốc phủ khắp 80% tỉnh thành trong 10 năm tới?". zingnews.vn. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "Motorbikes entering expressways in Vietnam could be confiscated". Tuoi Tre News. 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "DANH MỤC CÁC TUYẾN ĐƯỜNG BỘ CAO TỐC". luatvietnam.
- ^ "Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway a driving force in southeast Vietnam". Tuoi Tre News (in Vietnamese). 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.