HCMC – Vietnam has opened around 3,345 kilometers of expressways to traffic nationwide, with 2,182 kilometers completed during the 2021-2025 period alone, according to the latest report by the Department for Roads of Vietnam.
The figures were included in the department’s preliminary assessment of the operational effectiveness of the eastern North-South Expressway, which will serve as a basis for plans to expand the national expressway network.
The eastern North-South Expressway has emerged as the backbone of the country’s road infrastructure development. To date, 36 of its 39 sections have been put into operation, including sections under temporary operation, covering a total length of about 1,914 kilometers.
Alongside the expansion of the network, traffic management and electronic toll collection (ETC) systems on expressway projects developed during the 2017-2020 period have been operating in a synchronized manner. Between March 2 and May 31, the ETC system recorded more than 9.7 million vehicle trips and generated over VND944 billion in toll revenue.
Supporting infrastructure along the route is also taking shape, with seven rest stops fully completed and another 18 under construction.
The completion of more than 2,100 kilometers of expressways within a single five-year period reflects a significant public investment effort aimed at addressing long-standing infrastructure bottlenecks. As the North-South transport corridor becomes increasingly connected, the benefits are expected to translate into lower logistics costs and improved connectivity for businesses.
According to the report, recent adjustments to lane management in coordination with traffic police have reduced travel times by 20-30% and cut collision rates at major traffic hotspots by 70-80%.
However, rising traffic volumes on sections designed with limited four-lane capacity are prompting authorities to shift their focus from building new roads to upgrading existing infrastructure.
The Ministry of Construction is studying plans to expand all limited four-lane sections to full six-lane standards in line with the long-term expressway master plan. The approach is intended to avoid the inefficiencies associated with repeated piecemeal expansions.
Under the proposed roadmap, heavily trafficked sections developed during the 2017-2020 period would receive priority funding and begin expansion in 2027, while the remaining sections would follow in 2028. Authorities aim to complete the six-lane upgrade of the entire corridor by 2030 to support the Government’s goal of achieving double-digit economic growth.
