On December 19, a ceremony was held in Cao Bang to mark the technical open of Phase 1 of the Dong Dang (Lang Son) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang) Expressway Investment and Construction Project. The event took place as part of the nationwide series of ground-breaking, inauguration and technical opening ceremonies for key projects commemorating the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Overview of the ceremony

A breakthrough driver for the entire Northeast region

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission, acknowledged and commended the efforts of Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces, as well as the collective dedication of investors and contractors in overcoming difficulties and accelerating the project’s progress.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi emphasized that once completed and operated synchronously, the Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway will open up new development space and serve as a key driving force enabling Cao Bang and the broader Northeast region to achieve strong breakthroughs in the coming period.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi commends the efforts of Lang Son, Cao Bang and the project stakeholders

The Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway has a total length of 121 km and is divided into two investment phases, with a total investment of nearly VND 23 trillion. The starting point is at the interchange near Tan Thanh Border Gate (Lang Son Province), connecting to the Huu Nghi – Chi Lang Expressway and the Tan Thanh and Coc Nam border gates. The endpoint is at the interchange leading to the Tra Linh Border Gate Economic Zone in Cao Bang Province.

Stretching across Lang Son and Cao Bang, Phase 1 section spans more than 93 km and includes two mountain tunnels and 64 bridges crossing the Ky Cung and Bang Giang rivers, along with numerous streams and provincial roads. Phase 1 alone has a total investment of VND 14.3 trillion.

The Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway totals 121 km, developed in two phases.

Featuring karst geology, rugged terrain, and prolonged exposure to floods and natural disasters, the project is considered one of the most technically challenging expressway projects nationwide.

“Turning sheer cliffs into a modern expressway”

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Phan Thang An, Secretary of the Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee, affirmed that the Phase 1 traffic opening of the Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway is an event of special significance for the Party organization, authorities, and people of all ethnic groups in Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces.

Mr. Phan Thang An spoke at the ceremony

The technical opening of Phase 1 stands as vivid proof of great effort, strong determination, and the aspiration for breakthrough development in a mountainous border province still facing many challenges. The project helps remove critical transport infrastructure bottlenecks, expand development space, stimulate socio-economic growth, enhance regional connectivity, safeguard national defense and security, and improve people’s livelihoods.

To date, the project has achieved full connectivity of the subgrade and pavement on 85 out of 93 km of the main alignment (excluding sections affected by floods and additional bridges). Before the Lunar New Year of 2026, the project enterprise aims to complete approximately 44 km asphalt concrete pavement and about 45 km crushed stone base.

Dong Khe and That Khe tunnels are being finalized, gradually shaping an expressway cutting through the vast forests of the Northeast. Other components, including pavement structures, traffic safety systems, lighting, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), are being rapidly deployed to ensure synchronized operation upon commissioning.

The Cao Bang Provincial Party Secretary expressed gratitude to DEOCA Group and praised the investor consortium and contractors for “enduring scorching sun, conquering heavy rains, and standing firm against storms,” applying the most advanced road tunnel construction technologies to pierce mountains, build bridges, and transform sheer cliffs into a modern expressway.

A project of the Party’s will and the People’s aspiration”

Representing the investor consortium, Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy, general director of DEOCA Group, noted that under the original plan, Phase 1 of the Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway was scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

However, in response to the Prime Minister’s directive to connect the expressway network from Cao Bang to Ca Mau by 2025, the project adjusted its construction plan flexibly, concentrating all resources to shorten the schedule despite extremely complex terrain and geology.

“The expressway taking shape today is the result of more than 700 days and nights of relentless effort by over 3,000 managers, engineers and workers who steadfastly remained on site,” Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy affirmed.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy speaks at the ceremony.

Repeated storms and floods severely disrupted construction activities, causing nearly VND 100 billion in losses for investors and contractors. In 2025, actual construction time since land handover on March 30 amounted to only about three months.

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy also paid tribute and expressed deep condolences to project engineers and staff who tragically lost their lives during the devastating floods that swept through Cao Bang in September.

“This is a shared loss for the entire project workforce, and a profound reminder of the dedication, responsibility, and sacrifice of infrastructure builders”, the DEOCA Group representative stated.

Chairman of the Cao Bang Provincial People’s Committee presents certificates of merit to families of three project engineers who lost their lives due to natural disasters.

The successful traffic opening of Phase 1 in 2025 marks the fulfillment of the Prime Minister’s “mission of the heart” and brings closer the realization of the goal to connect a 3,000-km expressway network from Cao Bang to Ca Mau.

Delegates perform the expressway technical opening ceremony.

Upon completion, the Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway will connect with the Huu Nghi – Chi Lang and Bac Giang – Lang Son expressways to form a vital international transport corridor, facilitating trade flows from Vietnam to China and Europe, enhancing national competitiveness, and creating new socio-economic development momentum for the Northeast region.

By: Bac Hiep - Photos: Tran Binh