| Country: | VNM |
| Expressway network of Vietnam (Hệ thống đường cao tốc Việt Nam) | |
| Caption: | Highway shield of the North–South Expressway East and North–South Expressway West |
| Map: | Vietnam Expressway map - Numbered.png |
| Label1: | Expressways |
| Field1: | Đường Cao Tốc nn (CT.nn) |
| Label2: | National Roads |
| Field2: | Quốc Lộ nn (QL.nn) |
| Maint: | Vietnam Expressway Corp (VEC), Deo Ca Group, Son Hai Group and others |
| Formed: | 2002 |
| Length Km: | 9263 |
The Expressway network of Vietnam is a recent addition to the transport network of Vietnam. The first expressways were opened in the early-2000s, by 2020, the expressway network is expected to stretch 1276km (793miles) and plans are for over 7000km (4,000miles) of expressway by 2030.[1]
Expressways are a rather recent addition to the Vietnamese road network, and standardization has not been fully implemented. Ownership varies by expressway, they are financed, developed, owned and operated by either state-owned or private companies on behalf of the Ministry of Transport.[2] For example, state-owned Vietnam Expressway Corporation owns and operates four expressways,[3] but toll collection is done by subcontracted companies. The companies operating the expressways have to report traffic numbers and toll revenue to the Ministry of Transport and the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.[4] This construction has been subject of fraud investigations several times, as toll revenue was falsified by the collecting companies in order to take advantage of the difference.[5] The government has also threatened operating companies to revoke their toll collection licence after lack of maintenance caused dangerous situations on several expressways.[6] In 2019 it was reported that the Vietnam Expressway Corporation was $3.7 billion USD in debt, and earning $137 million in revenue each year.[7]
The total cost of the planned expressway network is estimated at $47.9 billion.[8] Lack of funding has been an issue throughout the development of the expressway network, with both the government and private investors having difficulty in raising the required investment costs.[9] [10]
In 2019, the Ministry of Transport decided to exclude foreign investors from bidding on the North-South expressway, mainly to prevent Chinese companies from participating. Public backslash – due to strong anti-Chinese sentiment in the country – was feared if Chinese companies would collect toll fees, as well national security concerns playing a role in this decision.[11] [12] However, lack of bidders has led to low competition between the bids,[13] and two out of five sections had not attracted any bids.[14]
In 2020, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng petitioned to the National Assembly to switch development of the remaining sections of the North–South expressway to state funding instead of build-operate-transfer contracts, in order to avoid delays in raising capital and to reduce interest amount. He noted that Chinese provinces Yunnan and Guangxi built 2000km (1,000miles) of expressways in three years, whereas 1300km (800miles) of planned expressway in Vietnam should have been completed decades ago. If public funding would be approved, construction on the sections Vĩnh Hảo (vi)–Phan Thiết, Mai Son (Ninh Bình)–Highway 45 (Thanh Hóa) and Phan Thiết–Dầu Giây (connection to Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway) would start in 2021.[15]
In a 2023 directive, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính instructed the Ministry of Transport to develop expressway design standards, as some of the expressways did not adhere to standards generally followed for expressways such as number of lanes, road width, operating speed and having continuous emergency lanes.[16]
A new draft plan is for 2542km (1,580miles) of new expressways to be completed before 2025 and an additional 1339km (832miles) for before 2030.[17]
Generally all cars, buses, trucks are permitted on the expressway but công nông (agricultural vehicles), motor tricycles, motorcycles, tractors and non-motorized vehicles are not.[18]
A minimum speed of 60km/h is generally in effect, although there are sections with a minimum speed of 80km/h in the middle and left lanes. The maximum speed anywhere is 120km/h, although sections with a lower maximum speed are common.
| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT.01 | North–South Expressway East | 2063km (1,282miles)[19] | 4–10 | Completed many expressway sections | |
| CT.02 | North–South Expressway West | 1205km (749miles) | 4–6 | Completed many expressway sections |
| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi–Hoa Binh–Son La–Dien Bien Expressway | 450km (280miles) | 4–6 | Completed Hoa Lac-Hoa Binh expressway first stage Completed Thang Long Boulevard expressway section | ||
| CT.04 | Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway | 105km (65miles) | 6 | Fully opened; formerly National Route 5B | |
| CT.05 | Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway | 264km (164miles) | 6 | Fully opened. Connects to China's G8011 by Kim Thanh International Border Gate. | |
| CT.06 | Haiphong–Ha Long–Van Don–Mong Cai Expressway | 175km (109miles) | 6 | Fully opened. Connects to China's G7511 by Bac Luan 2 Border Gate. | |
| CT.07 | Hanoi–Thai Nguyen–Bac Kan–Cao Bang Expressway | 227km (141miles) | 4–6 | Hanoi–Thai Nguyen section complete | |
| CT.08 | Ninh Binh–Haiphong Expressway | 109km (68miles) | 4 | Under construction | |
| CT.09 | Noi Bai–Bac Ninh–Ha Long Expressway | 146km (91miles) | 4 | Noi Bai–Bac Ninh section complete | |
| CT.10 | Tien Yen–Lang Son–Cao Bang Expressway | 215km (134miles) | 4 | Tan Thanh–Phúc Sen section under construction; Phúc Sen–Trà Lĩnh to begin construction after phase one is complete. Will connect to China's G69 by Tra Linh Border Gate. | |
| CT.11 | Phu Ly–Nam Dinh Expressway | 50km (30miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.12 | Yen Bai–Ha Giang Expressway | 81km (50miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.13 | Bao Ha–Lai Chau Expressway | 203km (126miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.14 | Cho Ben–Yen My Expressway | 45km (28miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.15 | Tuyen Quang–Ha Giang Expressway | 165km (103miles) | 4 | Under construction. Will connect to China's G5615 by Thanh Thuy Border Gate. | |
| CT.16 | Hung Yen–Thai Binh Expressway | 70km (40miles) | 4 | Proposed |
| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT.17 | Vinh–Thanh Thuy Expressway | 85km (53miles) | 6 | Proposed | |
| CT.18 | Vung Ang–Cha Lo Expressway | 115km (71miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.19 | Cam Lo–Lao Bao Expressway | 70km (40miles) | 4 | Funding phase Was CT.11 before 2021 | |
| CT.20 | Quy Nhon–Pleiku–Le Thanh Expressway | 230km (140miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.21 | Da Nang–Thach My–Ngoc Hoi–Bo Y Expressway | 281km (175miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.22 | Quang Nam–Quang Ngai Expressway | 100km (100miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.23 | Phu Yen–Dak Lak Expressway | 220km (140miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.24 | Khanh Hoa–Buon Ma Thuot Expressway | 130km (80miles) | 4 | Under construction | |
| CT.25 | Nha Trang–Lien Khuong Expressway | 85km (53miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.26 | Lien Khuong–Buon Ma Thuot Expressway | 115km (71miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.42 | Quang Ngai - Kon Tum Expressway | 159km (99miles) | 4 | Planned |
| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dau Giay–Dalat Expressway | 220km (140miles) | 4 | Completed between Lien Khuong and Pass Prenn (Da Lat); was CT.14 before 2021 | ||
| CT.28 | Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway | 54km (34miles) | 6–8 | Under construction; was CT.13 before 2021 | |
| CT.29 | Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway | 55km (34miles) | 6–10 | Fully opened | |
| CT.30 | Ho Chi Minh–Chon Thanh–Hoa Lu Expressway | 130km (80miles) | 6 | Proposed; was CT.15 before 2021 | |
| CT.31 | Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway | 53.5km (33.2miles)[20] | 6 | Will connect to Cambodia's E1 Phnom Penh–Bavet Expressway, parallels QL 22, Funding phase; was CT.16 before 2021 | |
| CT.32 | Go Dau–Xa Mat Expressway | 65km (40miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.33 | Ho Chi Minh City–Tien Giang–Ben Tre–Tra Vinh–Soc Trang Expressway | 150km (90miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.34 | Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway | 191km (119miles) | 6 | Under construction; was CT.17 before 2021 | |
| CT.35 | Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway | 212km (132miles) | 4 | Proposed | |
| CT.36 | Hong Ngu–Tra Vinh Expressway | 188km (117miles) | 4 | Proposed |
| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT.37 | Hanoi Ring Road 3 | 55km (34miles) | 6 | Fully completed; was CT.20 before 2021 | |
| CT.38 | Hanoi Ring Road 4 | 102km (63miles) | 6 | Under construction; was CT.21 before 2021 | |
| CT.39 | Hanoi Ring Road 5 | 272km (169miles) | 6 | Proposed |
| Number | Name | Length | Lanes | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT.40 | Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 | 92km (57miles) | 8 | Completed between Tan Van and Binh Chuan; was CT.22 before 2021 | |
| CT.41 | Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 | 199km (124miles) | 8 | Funding phase |
| Number | Name | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CT.01 | North–South Expressway East | 1811km (1,125miles) | Completed many expressway sections |
| CT.02 | North–South Expressway West | 1269km (789miles) | Some sections under construction |
| Hanoi–Cao Bang Expressway | 143km (89miles) | Completed Hanoi-Chi Lang (Lang Son) section Hanoi–Chi Lang now part of the CT.01 and Tien Yen–Lang Son–Cao Bang split off to CT.10 | |
| CT.04 | Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway | 106km (66miles) | Fully opened |
| CT.05 | Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway | 264km (164miles) | Yen Bai-Lao Cai: phase 1 completed |
| CT.06 | Noi Bai–Ha Long–Mong Cai Expressway | 304km (189miles) | Hanoi-Bac Ninh and Ha Long-Mong Cai sections completed Now part of CT.09 |
| CT.07 | Hanoi–Thai Nguyen Expressway | 70km (40miles) | Hanoi–Thai Nguyen–Cho Moi section complete; Cho Moi–Bac Kan section to begin construction in September 2022 |
| Thai Nguyen–Bac Kan–Cao Bang Expressway | 43km (27miles) | ||
| CT.08 | Hanoi–Hoa Binh Expressway | 56km (35miles) | Lang–Hoa Lac complete Hoa Lac–Hoa Binh: phase 1 completed In 2022, lengthened to Dien Bien and renumbered to CT.03 |
| CT.09 | Ninh Binh–Haiphong–Quang Ninh Expressway | 160km (100miles) | Haiphong–Ha Long section completed In 2022, shortened to Haiphong and renumbered to CT.08; Haiphong–Quang Ninh section split off to CT.06 |
| CT.10 | Hong Linh–Huong Son Expressway | 34km (21miles) | |
| CT.11 | Cam Lo–Lao Bao Expressway | 70km (40miles) | Renumbered to CT.19 in 2022 |
| CT.12 | Quy Nhon–Pleiku Expressway | 160km (100miles) | Now part of the CT.20 |
| CT.13 | Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway | 76km (47miles) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.28 in 2022 |
| CT.14 | Dau Giay–Dalat Expressway | 220km (140miles) | Lien Khuong–Pass Prenn (Dalat) complete Dau Giay–Lien Khuong: Investing in building only 4 lanes in September 2023 Renumbered to CT.27 in 2022 |
| CT.15 | Ho Chi Minh City–Thu Dau Mot–Chon Thanh Expressway | 69km (43miles) | Renumbered to CT.30 in 2022 |
| CT.16 | Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway | 55km (34miles) | Renumbered to CT.31 in 2022 |
| CT.17 | Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway | 200km (100miles) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.34 in 2022 |
| CT.18 | Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway | 225km (140miles) | Renumbered to CT.35 |
| CT.19 | Can Tho–Ca Mau Expressway | 150km (90miles) | Under construction Merged into the CT.01 in 2022 |
| CT.20 | Hanoi Ring Road 3 | 55km (34miles) | Renumbered to CT.37 in 2022 |
| CT.21 | Hanoi Ring Road 4 | 125km (78miles) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.38 in 2022 |
| CT.22 | Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 | 89km (55miles) | Under construction Renumbered to CT.40 in 2022 |