Việtnam’s Expressway Network Reaches Historic Milestone, Targets 5,000km by 2030

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Việtnam’s expressway development has entered a decisive phase over the past five years, with the country on track to achieve its target of 3,000 kilometres of expressways by the end of this year and moving steadily towards a 5,000km network by 2030.

According to the Ministry of Construction, expressway development was relatively modest in earlier decades, with only 89km completed between 2001 and 2010, followed by 1,163km during the 2011–2020 period. In contrast, the length of expressways invested in since 2021 alone is equivalent to the combined total of the previous decade, reflecting a sharp acceleration in infrastructure delivery.

By the end of 2025, around 3,513km of expressways are expected to be completed and opened to traffic. A landmark achievement is the eastern North–South Expressway, which is now largely finished, with all 23 component projects across both investment phases in operation. This has enabled seamless road connectivity from the northern to the southern regions of the country.

These developments were highlighted at a seminar titled “Momentum from 3,000km of Expressways”, where managers, transport experts and enterprises agreed that the current pace of construction is unprecedented in the history of Việt Nam’s transport sector.

Participants noted that the expanding expressway network has significantly eased congestion, shortened travel times and strengthened regional connectivity, while opening new development space and enhancing economic competitiveness. Infrastructure that once constrained growth is now acting as a key driver of socio-economic development.

Discussions at the seminar focused on lessons learned, remaining constraints and policy adjustments needed to sustain momentum. Lê Quyết Tiến, Director of the Department of Economic and Investment Management of Construction under the Ministry of Construction, said a major breakthrough was the approval of parallel implementation of investment procedures for Phase 2 of the North–South Expressway project.

Combined with special mechanisms for site clearance, quarry licensing, and streamlined appraisal and design processes, project preparation time was significantly shortened. He added that close oversight by the State Steering Committee for nationally important projects helped resolve emerging issues promptly, ensuring both progress and construction quality.

Contractors acknowledged that the past five years have pushed domestic enterprises to their limits. Phạm Văn Khôi of Phương Thành Transportation Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company said expressway projects have tested organisational capacity, financial strength and resilience.

He noted that challenging terrain, complex geology and material shortages forced contractors to adjust technical solutions and absorb additional costs to maintain progress, with many firms prioritising deadlines over profits as a matter of professional responsibility. Khôi also called for greater flexibility in applying new technologies, noting that regulatory barriers remain, particularly in technology trials and unit pricing.

Nguyễn Hải Vinh, Deputy General Director of Thăng Long Construction Corporation, said tighter schedules have made financing the biggest challenge, as expanding construction fronts and mobilising additional machinery, labour and materials require substantial capital. While profit margins have narrowed, he said the pressure has accelerated learning and strengthened management capacity across the sector.

From a construction perspective, Nguyễn Bá Đoàn of Trường Sơn Construction Corporation’s Army Corps 12 highlighted materials and workforce availability as decisive factors. He said early resolution of material supply issues can enable projects to finish months ahead of schedule, while shortages of engineers and skilled workers are becoming increasingly serious.

Consulting firms are facing similar pressure. Phạm Hữu Sơn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Transport Engineering Design Consulting Corporation, said the rapid delivery requirements have compelled consultants to treat expressway projects as political tasks rather than purely commercial work. Despite heavy workloads and consultancy fees among the lowest across sectors, firms must mobilise maximum resources to meet quality and progress demands, he added, pointing to limited State support and persistent material shortages.

Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Road Transport Infrastructure Investors, Associate Professor Trần Chủng, said achieving the 3,000km milestone by the end of 2025 reflects the growing maturity of Việt Nam’s infrastructure system. He noted that the application of science and technology has become a key differentiator, enabling faster delivery while maintaining standards and laying a solid foundation for the 5,000km target by 2030.

Looking ahead, Khôi said demand is expected to remain substantial. On December 19 alone, more than 240 projects are scheduled for ground-breaking or inauguration, with a total investment of about VNĐ2.2 quadrillion (US$83.5 billion).

“Workloads in the next term are forecast to be four to five times higher than in the previous one, underscoring the need for stronger worker training and more effective mechanisms to secure local material supplies,” he said.