An expensive road toll has led more truck drivers to take National Highway 1 instead of the high-speed Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong expressway that connects the city with the Mekong Delta.
To drive on the expressway, it costs a five ton capacity truck an average of VND90,000 (US$4) in tolls, despite the fact that it takes just 30-40 minutes to cross.
At the same time, using National Highway 1 is free, although it takes around 90 minutes in busy traffic.
The average volume of truck traffic on National Highway 1 has risen by 16 percent, according to Nguyen Van Thanh, vice head of the road management unit under the Ministry of Transport.
In January this year, nearly 4,700 trucks paid the toll to use the new high-speed expressway. This figure went down to 4,600 in June and 3,900 by October.
The increase in traffic on National Highway 1 has caused it to deteriorate and it now requires a VND1.1 trillion ($49 million) upgrade in the 80km section between Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang Province.
Starting December 10, the road management unit will ban trucks from five tons and above from using National Highway 1 during peak times.
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