View of underway $423mn expy for Vietnam-China trade

During the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers’ Day (May 1) holiday, the construction site of the expressway remained bustling with excavators, trucks, and workers operating non-stop.

At a section of the construction site in Cao Loc District, Lang Son Province, a long line of road rollers moved in sequence to flatten the red soil surface. 

In the distance, excavators, bulldozers, and trucks operated continuously.

At night, the 'sleepless' construction site continued with a steady stream of materials being transported to maintain progress.

Wearing his dusty worker uniform, Binh, a road roller operator, shared that the job is tough, especially on rainy days when red soil floods up to the ankles. 

Still, no one complains. They encourage each other to push through and complete their tasks.

The Huu Nghi – Chi Lang Expressway project spans nearly 60 kilometers, connecting the Huu Nghi Border Gate with the Bac Giang – Lang Son Expressway.

It is implemented under the public-private partnership model with a build-operate-transfer contract.

The route includes the 43km Huu Nghi - Chi Lang section and a 17km connecting segment to the Tan Thanh – Coc Nam Border Gate.

The expressway is meant to enhance transportation and economic connectivity between ASEAN and China, and between Vietnam and China. 

It links two key economic regions of Vietnam—the Red River Delta and the northern mountainous area—and connects four localities, Hanoi, Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Quang Ninh.

According to the Lang Son People’s Committee, by the end of April 2025, about 95 percent of the land for the project had been handed over.

To ensure timely progress, the province has requested contractors to mobilize equipment and manpower for the project. 

Over the past few months, provincial leaders have regularly visited the site to inspect construction and resolve issues.

During an inspection on April 21, vice-chairman of the administration in Lang Son Province Luong Trong Quynh suggested the Ministry of Construction propose the prime minister and relevant ministries allocate an additional VND800 billion ($30.8 million) from the central budget surplus for the expressway project.

At the site, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh urged investors and local authorities to remove obstacles and expedite construction by organizing three shifts a day, ensuring the road opens in 2025 while also maintaining quality, labor safety, and environmental hygiene.

Regarding Lang Son’s proposal, Minh instructed the ministry’s office to take note and the ministry will report it to the government for review and resolution.