Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway fully opens after 12 years, shortening travel across southern Vietnam
The 58km Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway officially opened to traffic at midnight on October 1, creating a new transport link between southwestern and southeastern Vietnam.
The expressway is expected to cut travel time by more than one hour for motorists traveling between the Mekong Delta and southeastern provinces by avoiding several congested roads in Ho Chi Minh City.
Under the traffic plan, the maximum speed on most of the mainline is 90km per hour, while the minimum speed is 60km per hour. Lower speed limits apply on certain sections, bridges and interchanges as indicated by road signs.
Starting from My Yen Interchange, vehicles from the Mekong Delta can travel along the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway before entering the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway.
The entrance to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway shortly before its full opening. Photo: Huu Duy / Tuoi Tre
The route runs through the southern part of Ho Chi Minh City, crosses the Soai Rap and Long Tau rivers, continues through Dong Nai City and connects with National Highway 51.
The expressway provides motorists from the Mekong Delta with a more direct route to Long Thanh International Airport and Vung Tau, while also allowing goods and agricultural products from the Mekong Delta to reach seaports faster, including the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port complex.
Vehicles pass through Toll Plaza 04 at Nguyen Van Tao Interchange in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thuan Van - Le Phan / Tuoi Tre
The full opening marks the completion of a major national infrastructure project that was launched in 2014 with an expected construction period of about five years.
However, the project stalled in 2019 after about 80 percent of the work had been completed due to problems related to investment mechanisms, procedures and funding. Some contracts were terminated, while contractors left the construction site, leaving several sections unfinished for years.
After the obstacles were addressed, the project was restarted in 2023, with Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), the investor, selecting contractors to complete the remaining work.
Vehicles line up at Toll Plaza 04 at Nguyen Van Tao Interchange in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Huu Duy / Tuoi Tre
From January 2025, VEC gradually opened sections that were ready for traffic, including the stretch from My Yen Interchange to Nguyen Van Tao Interchange and the section from Phuoc An Interchange to National Highway 51, with a combined length of nearly 30km.
The completion of Phuoc Khanh Bridge and other remaining components has now allowed the entire expressway to open as a continuous route.
Toll Plaza 04 at the intersection of Nguyen Van Tao Street and the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thuan Van / Tuoi Tre
On the morning of October 1, traffic was already busy, with many motorists choosing the new route instead of traveling through inner-city roads.
The expressway passes through diverse natural landscapes, including nipa palm forests and green mangrove forests, offering motorists a quieter journey away from the noise and congestion of urban roads.
An aerial view of the Nguyen Van Tao Interchange in Ho Chi Minh City. From here, vehicles can cross Binh Khanh and Phuoc Khanh bridges toward the end of the expressway, connecting with National Highway 51 and the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway. Photo: Thuan Van / Tuoi Tre
Nguyen Dang Khanh, who works in Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, stopped to experience the newly opened expressway after returning from a business trip to Ca Mau Province. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre
Workers clean up after completing preparations shortly before the opening of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway. Photo: Huu Duy / Tuoi Tre
Google Maps has also updated the status of the entire Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway. Photo: Google Maps
The interchange of Nguyen Van Tao Street and the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway on September 30, 2026. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre
The project investor makes final preparations for the full opening of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway on September 30, 2026. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre
The Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway officially opened to traffic along its entire route at midnight on October 1, 2026. The section from Dong Nai City to the Mekong Delta opened at midnight, while traffic toward Dong Nai City from the Mekong Delta via Nguyen Van Tao Interchange began at 2:00 am the same day. Photo: Thuan Van / Tuoi Tre
A steady stream of vehicles travels across Binh Khanh Bridge toward Dong Nai City after the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway officially opened along its entire route. Photo: Thuan Van / Tuoi Tre
A long line of vehicles waits to enter the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway toward Dong Nai City from Toll Plaza 04. Photo: Huu Duy / Tuoi Tre
Traffic was already busy at Toll Plaza 04 at Nguyen Van Tao Interchange early in the morning of October 1, 2026 as vehicles entered the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway. Photo: Huu Duy / Tuoi Tre
Binh Khanh Bridge welcomes the first vehicles on the day the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway fully opens to traffic. Photo: Huu Duy / Tuoi Tre
An employee at Toll Plaza 07 said traffic was heavy on October 1, 2026. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre
An overview of Nguyen Van Tao Interchange on the first day the Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway fully opened to traffic. Photo: Huu Duy / Tuoi Tre
The expressway runs through a forested area. Photo: Thuan Van / Tuoi Tre
Vehicles travel across Phuoc Khanh Bridge on the morning of October 1, 2026. Photo: Thuan Van / Tuoi Tre
For the first time, the entire nearly 58km route is connected, forming a new transport corridor linking southwestern and southeastern Vietnam. Photo: Thuan Van / Tuoi Tre
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