Vietnam to break ground on $1.37bn expansion of key expressway to Mekong Delta this week

The Department for Roads of Vietnam has signed a public-private partnership contract with investors to widen the 96-kilometer route under a build-operate-transfer model.

The project will expand the Ho Chi Minh City–Trung Luong section from four lanes to eight lanes, with a design speed of 120 km per hour, while the Trung Luong–My Thuan section will be widened to six lanes, according to project documents.

Construction will run from the Cho Dem interchange in Ho Chi Minh City to the northern approach of My Thuan 2 bridge in Dong Thap Province.

Total investment is estimated at more than VND36 trillion (US$1.37 billion), funded entirely by private capital.

The project is scheduled to begin on Friday and is expected to be completed in 2028.

Officials said the expansion is aimed at easing chronic congestion on the existing expressway and improving freight and passenger connectivity between southeastern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta.

The groundbreaking coincides with the launch or completion of more than 230 infrastructure projects nationwide on the same day, with combined investment exceeding VND3.4 quadrillion ($129 billion), according to government statements.

Ho Chi Minh City is also planning upgrades to western gateway roads, including sections of National Highway 1, to improve links between the city and the expanded expressway.