Vietnam’s Lam Dong breaks ground on $550mn forest-crossing expressway

The route, widely described as Vietnam’s most scenic forest-crossing expressway, will stretch approximately 66 kilometers, including about 11 kilometers in Dong Nai Province and nearly 54 kilometers in Lam Dong.

In the first construction phase, the route will feature a 17-meter-wide roadbed, four traffic lanes, a design speed of 80 kph, and discontinuous emergency stopping lanes.

Sections with deep cuts, high embankments, interchanges and selected bridges will be built to a 22-meter-wide cross-section to meet safety and technical standards.

In the completed phase, the expressway will be expanded to 22 meters, with two continuous emergency lanes to accommodate long-term traffic demand.

The project carries a price tag of nearly VND14.5 trillion (US$550 million) and is implemented under a public-private partnership model using a build-operate-transfer contract.

Vietnam’s Son Hai Group, the project developer, is set to complete construction by the end of 2027, followed by an operation and toll-collection period of 23 years and 9 months.

Once completed, it will link the Dau Giay-Tan Phu Expressway with the 74-kilometer Bao Loc-Lien Khuong Expressway, whose construction began in June this year.

Nguyen Hong Hai, vice-chairman of the Lam Dong administration, described the Tan Phu-Bao Loc Expressway as a key national infrastructure project aimed at boosting socio-economic development for Lam Dong and the Central Highlands.

When fully connected with the Bao Loc-Lien Khuong Expressway, the Tan Phu-Bao Loc route will significantly ease pressure on National Highway 20, which is currently overloaded.

The project is expected to create new opportunities for investment, tourism, industrial development and logistics in southern Lam Dong.

Lam Dong has recently accelerated infrastructure development.

Alongside the Bao Loc-Lien Khuong Expressway linking Da Lat with the Southern Key Economic Zone, authorities in neighboring Khanh Hoa Province are completing procedures to seek central government approval for the Nha Trang-Da Lat Expressway.

The proposed Nha Trang-Da Lat route will span about 81 kilometers, with a total investment of approximately VND25.06 trillion ($951 million), featuring four full lanes and a design speed of 80-100 kph.

Once completed in 2028, travel time between Nha Trang and Da Lat is expected to drop to 1.5-2 hours from the current 3.5-4 hours.

Apart from expressway construction, Lam Dong is working to upgrade Lien Khuong Airport, with a projected total investment of VND7.75 trillion ($294 million).

Backed by major infrastructure projects, Da Lat is entering a new growth phase marked by a rapid increase in high-end housing and luxury resort developments.

Investors from South Korea, Singapore and other countries have committed trillions of dong to premium projects, ranging from international-brand five-star resorts overlooking the iconic Xuan Huong Lake to hillside luxury retreats.