HCMC – Several expressway projects in Vietnam are seen falling behind schedule, prompting the Ministry of Construction to tighten oversight and push for faster disbursement of public investment capital.
At a monthly meeting on June 6, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh said contractors failing to meet deadlines would have their workloads reassigned.
Meeting the construction targets is critical for accelerating public capital disbursement and thus fueling economic growth, he was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency.
According to the ministry, some projects have maintained progress, with construction volume exceeding 80%. Ham Nghi–Vung Ang and Van Phong–Nha Trang sections are nearly complete. However, many other projects are behind schedule, affecting the ministry’s disbursement performance.
By the end of May, the ministry had disbursed over VND17.6 trillion, or more than 21% of its annual capital plan assigned by the prime minister. Several project management units reported higher-than-average disbursement rates, including the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board (over 27%), the My Thuan Project Management Board (nearly 27%), and the Department for Roads of Vietnam (over 25%).
The ministry has directed project owners to revise detailed construction schedules and adjust monthly disbursement plans. Contractors for intelligent transportation systems (ITS), toll collection, vehicle weight monitoring, and backend systems must be selected by June and complete installation by October this year.
In 2025, the ministry plans to launch 18 projects, with seven already underway. Preparations are ongoing for the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Haiphong railway project, which is scheduled to break ground on December 19.
Of the 43 projects planned for completion this year, only two have been finished: the rehabilitation of weak bridges on national highways and the construction of Terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
