On August 12, 2026, the Government Office issued Notice No. 422/TB-VPCP on the conclusions of Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc at a meeting reviewing the upgrading and completion of expressway sections previously developed under phased investment schemes. The Notice identifies key tasks to accelerate investment and progressively complete the expressway network in accordance with approved plans, meeting the requirements of socio-economic development in the coming period.
Expressway Development as a Key and Urgent Priority
According to the conclusions of the Standing Deputy Prime Minister, developing the expressway network plays a vital role in establishing the backbone of the national transport system, strengthening regional connectivity, reducing logistics costs, enhancing competitiveness, and expanding development opportunities. It also serves as a key driver of investment attraction, national defense and security, and the achievement of the double-digit economic growth target in 2026 and subsequent years.
Based on Conclusion No. 18-KL/TW dated April 4, 2026, issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the target is to bring more than 5,000 km of expressways into operation by 2030, while prioritizing investment in expressway routes in accordance with approved plans.
To achieve this target, investment preparation and project implementation must be accelerated in parallel, with priority given to expressway sections developed under phased investment schemes that require further upgrading to meet operational requirements and complete the overall network.
Prioritizing the Upgrading of Expressways with Limited Capacity
One of the key provisions of Notice No. 422/TB-VPCP is the agreement in principle to prioritize investment in expanding and upgrading two-lane expressways to their full planned cross-sections in compliance with applicable technical regulations and approved plans.
For four-lane expressways, the Ministry of Construction and the local authorities acting as project management authorities are responsible for studying options to expand and upgrade necessary sections based on traffic demand, ensuring compliance with applicable technical regulations and approved plans. Investment decisions shall be made within their respective authority or submitted to the competent authorities for consideration and approval where private capital can be mobilized.
On this basis, the Ministry of Construction will undertake investment preparation for the expansion of the Eastern North–South Expressway, providing a foundation for determining traffic demand, investment scope and scale, socio-economic effectiveness, and implementation arrangements for submission to the competent authorities for consideration and decision.
Mobilizing Social Resources and Expanding Investment Opportunities
Alongside the upgrading of existing expressways, the Government continues to emphasize the need to mobilize the maximum possible social resources to develop a modern, integrated transport infrastructure system.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Construction has been assigned to take the lead, in coordination with relevant local authorities, in organizing an investment promotion conference to introduce expressway projects and attract domestic and international investors to participate through appropriate investment mechanisms.
Editorial Board – TECCO1
(Source: baochinhphu.gov.vn)