HCMC – The Ministry of Transport has announced plans to expand the Hanoi-Thai Nguyen Expressway from four to six lanes to accommodate increasing transport demand and boost regional development.
The project is part of Vietnam’s broader road network development strategy for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The corridor, spanning 227 kilometers from Hanoi to Cao Bang, includes the 66-kilometer Hanoi-Thai Nguyen segment, which currently operates with four lanes. Funding constraints have delayed the expansion of this section, the ministry said.
The ministry is working with government agencies and local authorities to identify and mobilize funds for the upgrade.
The expressway, which costs over VND10 trillion using ODA loans and domestic capital, has been operational since 2014, with a design speed of 100 km/h.
Progress is also being made on other sections of the corridor. The Thai Nguyen-Cho Moi segment, which has been in use since 2016, currently has two lanes but is set for upgrade to four lanes by 2030. Meanwhile, a 28.8-kilometer section between Cho Moi and Bac Kan, approved in May 2024, is expected to begin construction in early 2025 and be completed by 2026.
The Bac Kan-Cao Bang section, spanning 92.8 kilometers with a design speed of 100 km/h, is in the feasibility study phase. Local authorities are finalizing the project’s pre-investment study.
The Ministry of Transport emphasized that these upgrades are critical for fostering economic growth, improving transport infrastructure, and ensuring regional security.
