Groundbreaking ceremony held for the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway Expansion Project

On the morning of August 19, at the Tam An Technical Maintenance Center in An Phuoc Commune, Dong Nai Province, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway Expansion Project. 

Nguyen Van Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Finance, attends the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Cong Nghia

Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Dong Nai Province, attends the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Cong Nghia

The ceremony was attended by Nguyen Van Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Finance, along with representatives from central ministries and agencies. Representing Dong Nai Province at the event were Vu Hong Van, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Major General Nguyen Duc Hai, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Director of Dong Nai Provincial Police; and Nguyen Kim Long, Provincial Party Committee Member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, as well as leaders of provincial departments and agencies. On behalf of Ho Chi Minh City were Bui Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, and senior officials from relevant municipal departments.

Delegates attend the ceremony. Photo: Cong Nghia

The expansion project covers the section from the Ring Road 2 interchange in Ho Chi Minh City to the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway interchange in Dong Nai Province, with a total length of 22 kilometers. The project owner is the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC). The total investment capital is nearly VND 16.3 trillion, and completion is targeted for late 2026.

The scope of work includes widening the 4.8-kilometer section from Ring Road 2 to Ring Road 3 from four to eight lanes, and expanding the 14.7-kilometer section from Ring Road 3 to the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway interchange from four to ten lanes, excluding the Long Thanh Bridge.

An overview of the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Cong Nghia

For the bridge component, a new 2.3-kilometer parallel structure will be built to the right of the existing Long Thanh Bridge, with five traffic lanes. The bridge is expected to be connected by the end of 2026, with all related works completed in the first quarter of 2027.

The expanded corridor will feature five full interchanges, one partial interchange, and 11 bridges, including one viaduct, two interchange overpasses, and eight river-crossing bridges.

Delegates press the button to launch the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway Expansion Project.  Photo: Cong Nghia

Once operational, the expressway will help significantly increase traffic capacity, reduce congestion, and shorten travel times between Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, neighboring provinces, and key industrial zones. The expansion is considered urgent, particularly in preparation for the commissioning of Long Thanh International Airport.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee Nguyen Kim Long emphasized that the expansion project, which runs through Dong Nai territory, is not only a transportation initiative but also a strategic driver of growth for the Southern Key Economic Region. It will strengthen connectivity with seaports, industrial parks, logistics centers, and financial hubs. At the same time, it will strengthen national defense and security, while reaffirming the strategic role of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai in the country’s process of integration and development.

Nguyen Kim Long, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province, speaks on behalf of the leaders of Dong Nai Province and Ho Chi Minh City at the ceremony. Photo: Cong Nghia

On behalf of the leadership of Dong Nai Province, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Kim Long extended his sincere gratitude to the Government, the Prime Minister, central ministries and agencies, and the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) for their guidance and support in launching the project. He also expressed deep appreciation for the consensus and efforts of local authorities, organizations, and residents throughout the project preparation process.

Dong Nai Province also reaffirmed its commitment to accompany the project owner and contractors in promptly addressing bottlenecks, ensuring site clearance and the stable supply of construction materials. The province will direct its departments, agencies, and localities to coordinate closely during implementation to safeguard safety, progress, and quality. At the same time, it will continue mobilizing communities in the project area to maintain consensus, share responsibility, and contribute jointly for the common interests of the province, the region, and the nation.

Provincial leaders express confidence and expectation that, with the determination of the Government, the concerted cooperation of ministries, sectors, and localities, as well as the support of the people, the project will be completed on schedule, contributing to the construction of a modern expressway and opening new development space for Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, and the entire Southeastern region.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang emphasized: The Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway Expansion Project holds special significance as an urgent project under the Government’s special direction. Once completed, it will play a vital role in socio-economic development, especially in connecting two major international airports—Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport.

Nguyen Van Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Finance, delivers a directive speech at the ceremony. Photo: Cong Nghia

According to Minister Nguyen Van Thang, the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway Expansion Project is the first to be implemented under the public investment model, with a state-owned enterprise assigned as the governing body in accordance with the Law on Public Investment. The successful implementation of this project carries significant importance, reaffirming the soundness of policy execution and realizing the Party’s orientation on decentralization, delegation of authority, and the mobilization and diversification of investment resources. It also contributes to the step-by-step completion of the national road network as outlined in the 2021–2030 Road Network Master Plan, with a vision to 2050.

Minister Nguyen Van Thang highly commended the project investor, VEC, for its strong commitment and determination in completing investment procedures and preparing for construction, enabling the project to commence during a time of special political significance for the country. He also urged the investor and contractors to accelerate construction progress to ensure the project is completed on schedule.

Nguyen Van Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Finance, presents gifts to encourage the construction workers of the project. Photo: Cong Nghia

Minister Nguyen Van Thang stated that the Government and relevant ministries will provide the strongest possible support to ensure the project’s completion. At the same time, he called on Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province to take proactive measures in coordinating land clearance and securing construction materials, so that the project can be completed on schedule.

Contractors gather equipment, ready to begin construction after the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Cong Nghia

According to VEC, the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway handles more than 60,000 vehicles per day, while its design capacity is only 44,000 vehicles, exceeding the intended capacity by more than 25%.As a result, the expressway is frequently overloaded, especially during peak hours, and holidays.

By Cong Nghia

Translated by Le Hung - Thu Ha