On February 2 (the fifth day of the Lunar New Year), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, accompanied by a government delegation, conducted an on-site survey and inspected the progress of two major expressway projects: Dong Dang (Lang Son) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang) and Huu Nghi – Chi Lang (Lang Son).

Joining the Prime Minister on the inspection were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, along with senior officials from various ministries, agencies, and local authorities.

Project enterprise representative reports to the Prime Minister on the implementation of the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang expressway project

Immediate deployment of Phase 2 of the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway Project

The Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway spans a total length of 121 km and is divided into two phases, with a total investment of 23 trillion VND. Phase 1 covers more than 93 km, with an investment of 14.114 trillion VND. Once completed, the project will cut travel time between Hanoi and Cao Bang in half, boost local and regional socio-economic development, and strengthen national security and defense.

Regarding land clearance, both Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces have largely completed the process as outlined in the feasibility study, with approximately 80% of the required land handed over according to the technical design documents. The two provinces are committed to fully transferring the remaining land by the first quarter of 2025 to facilitate project implementation.

Dong Khe Tunnel

With the relentless efforts, the investors, project enterprises and construction contractors have mobilized 36 construction teams, 650 pieces of equipment, and 1,500 personnel, successfully digging-through two mountain tunnels. The projected construction output for 2025 is estimated at 4.905 trillion VND.

During the Lunar New Year, project enterprises and contractors maintained operations with 19 construction teams, comprising 230 officers, engineers, and workers, along with more than 200 machines and pieces of equipment, ensuring continuous progress throughout the holiday. Reporting

Reporting to the Prime Minister, Cao Bang province proposed the early implementation of Phase 2 of the Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. This phase includes a 13.5 km expressway connecting the project to the Ta Lung border gate and a 24 km expressway linking to Cao Bang City. Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh expressed his support for the proposal.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and presented gifts to encourage employees at the project.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed in principle and called for the urgent implementation of Phase 2 of the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, using the same capital mechanism as Phase 1 to ensure efficiency and prevent waste. He instructed relevant ministries and agencies to provide guidance to local authorities for effective execution.

Additionally, the Prime Minister endorsed proposals for expressway connections linking the project to Cao Bang City and the Ta Lung border gate. He assigned the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to take responsibility for capital allocation while directing local authorities to prioritize enterprises with proven track records for continued implementation.

However, he emphasized that the immediate priority must be the completion of Phase 2 of the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway to contribute to the broader goal of establishing a continuous expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau by 2025.

Six key tasks for Investors

After conducting an on-site inspection and reviewing reports, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended investors and contractors for their cooperation and prompt, methodical execution of procedures. He also recognized Deoca Group for its structured approach, including dedicated management boards, training centers, and its readiness for high-intensity construction tasks, particularly in tunnel excavation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting after inspecting the project site

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged Deoca Group to continue enhancing and upgrading modern technologies to prepare for future projects, particularly the high-speed railway initiative. He also emphasized the importance of large enterprises supporting and guiding local businesses to foster collective growth and development. The

The Prime Minister assigned six critical tasks to Deoca Group, stressing the need for continuous innovation to boost productivity while ensuring: labor safety, project progress, construction quality, environmental sanitation, productivity, and investment efficiency.

As of now, Lang Son province has handed over 392.15 out of 557.82 hectares of land for the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway project, equivalent to 70.32% of the total required area. Within this, 355.58 hectares (63.76%) are accessible for construction.

To accelerate progress, contractors have mobilized 806 engineers and workers, 397 pieces of equipment, and 39 construction teams. The project enterprise is targeting route completion in 2025, with an estimated construction output of 4.623 trillion VND.

At the same time, Lang Son province has proposed increasing the state budget contribution to 70% of the total investment to enhance the financial feasibility of the project, similar to the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway, which also traverses a region with challenging socio-economic conditions. This adjustment would provide a solid basis for TPBank to finalize a 2.5 trillion VND credit agreement for the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway project.

Prime Minister and officials and workers working at the project site

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that any adjustment to the state capital ratio in the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway project must be accompanied by a review of the toll collection period, ensuring the process is conducted publicly and transparently. He urged banks and investors to collaborate closely in securing credit capital for the project.

For PPP projects, he stressed the importance of balancing benefits and sharing risks, addressing objective and practical challenges, and ensuring the interests of the people.

To facilitate this, he assigned Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc to oversee financial matters related to the project and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to study investment procedures and report to the Prime Minister by February 2025.

In Lang Son province, the Bac Giang - Lang Son Expressway Project has repeatedly been proposed for 4.6 trillion VND in state budget support. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh affirmed that the challenges facing the project did not originate from the investors and must be addressed promptly.

The Prime Minister assigned the Minister of Transport to incorporate a plan for resolving issues related to BOT projects into the project framework and report to the National Assembly during its May 2025 session.

He also commended the project enterprises and contractors for maintaining operations throughout the Lunar New Year while ensuring good policies for workers. At the same time, he urged the two localities and all relevant parties to “do well and do even better, enhance management and oversight to prevent inefficiencies and waste.”

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, the Prime Minister and his delegation visited the project sites, extended holiday greetings, and encouraged contractors, engineers, and workers to maintain their competitive spirit in production. He emphasized the shared commitment to opening the two projects in 2025 and completing them by 2026.

By Huy Vu - Tuan Linh