On April 21, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered the construction of the Huu Nghi-Chi Lang border gate expressway project to start in Chi Lang district, Lang Son province.

The project is invested in the public-private partnership method, BOT contract type, with the People's Committee of Lang Son Province as the competent state agency. The total investment is 11,024 billion VND. State budget capital participating in the project is 5,495 billion VND (3,500 billion VND central budget, 2,000 billion VND local budget); the capital the investor arranges is 5,529 billion VND. The project is expected to be completed in 2026, with a toll collection and operating period of 25 years and 8 months.

Huu Nghi—Chi Lang border gate expressway project

Huu Nghi - Chi Lang border gate expressway project is implemented in the districts of Chi Lang, Cao Loc, Van Lang, and City. Lang Son has a total length of 60km. The route includes the 43 km long Huu Nghi - Chi Lang section, designed with 4 motor vehicle lanes and a 17m roadbed width. The section connecting the Tan Thanh - Coc Nam border gate is 17km long, with 2 motor vehicle lanes and a 14.5 m roadbed width.

The project investor, a joint venture of DEOCA Construction Joint Stock Company - DEOCA Group Joint Stock Company - 568 Construction Joint Stock Company, will play a crucial role in the successful execution of the project.

Only discuss how to do, not discuss how to retreat

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of ministries, branches, Lang Son province, and investors in preparations to start construction on the Huu Nghi border gate expressway project - Chi Lang, at the same time, thanked the local people for supporting and accompanying the smooth site clearance work to implement the project.

Mr. Pham Minh Chinh - the Prime Minister, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Emphasizing that there is still much work to implement the project in the next 2 years, the Prime Minister requested relevant ministries and branches to accompany the People's Committee of Lang Son province to remove problems within its authority: "What is beyond the authority of the People's Committee of Lang Son province? Then, report to the Government for consideration and settlement. Do not push; avoid it, and do not let it drag on"

The Prime Minister requested localities to continue promoting the spirit of self-reliance and self-reliance to implement the project to ensure progress, quality, and environmental sanitation, mainly to perform state management work well at the project. Investors must ensure that the project is implemented according to the law, avoid group interests, and ensure progress, quality, and environmental sanitation during project implementation. Project construction contractors must comply with state regulations on progress, quality, aesthetics, labor safety, and environmental sanitation.

"Contractors need to carry out construction in the spirit of working in 3 shifts of 4 crews, throughout holidays, through holidays, weathering the sun and winning the rain, eating and sleeping promptly, only working without backtracking" the Prime Minister stated.

Mr. Ho Minh Hoang - Chairman of DEOCA Group, reported to the Prime Minister about the project

Completing Huu Nghi - Chi Lang border gate expressway project reduces accidents and congestion occurring on National Highway 1. This is the first section of the Eastern North-South Expressway. When the project comes into operation, it will join the ongoing Bac Giang - Lang Son and Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressways, synchronizing the expressway network, connecting major northern border gates to economic centers and significant economy across the country, contributing to strengthening the international trade and promoting the country's socio-economic development.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Doan, Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, said that the PPP project on the Huu Nghi—Chi Lang border gate expressway interests the Party and State leaders. The Prime Minister has often directly chaired the promotion of the project's implementation. Lang Son province looks forward daily to putting the PPP Project on the Huu Nghi—Chi Lang border gate expressway into construction.

"Not only is Lang Son province hopeful, but Cao Bang also wants us to soon deploy the Huu Nghi—Chi Lang expressway to create a synchronous expressway connecting Tan Thanh border gate to Tra Linh border gate. That contributes to perfecting the transportation network from Hanoi to the northern border provinces" Mr. Nguyen Quoc Doan emphasized.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Doan, Secretary of Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee highly appreciated the investor partnership for proposing a plan to mobilize resources to ensure the project's feasibility.

Mr. Ho Minh Hoang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DEOCA Group and a representative of the Investor Consortium, expressed: "There is nothing more wonderful than when we are the businesses that have successfully implemented the Bac Giang—Lang expressway project." Son now continues to be trusted to implement the Huu Nghi—Chi Lang border gate expressway.

Mr. Ho Minh Hoang - Chairman of DEOCA Group, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Mr. Ho Minh Hoang said that to reach the groundbreaking milestone, the project had to overcome many difficulties. During the project implementation process, there will still be many challenges. The investor consortium commits to the Government and people implementing the project with the spirit of "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain," and "only moving forward, not retreating."

"We use the project site as a "real combat" training ground for DEOCA Group and other businesses to develop together. We implement PPP++ investment solutions, organize construction, control project progress and costs with new technology, and apply BIM to manage the project effectively," the Chairman of DEOCA Group said.

About to escape the "dead-end highway" situation

Bac Giang - Lang Son Expressway is a challenging BOT project. The project stalled for years until investor DEOCA stepped in to "rescue." The 63km expressway completed after nearly 2 years is still a record for expressway construction progress in Vietnam. However, the project still needs to involve state budget capital. Along with objective reasons such as cutting toll stations, reducing ticket prices... leading to low actual revenue, currently only reaching about 32% of the original financial plan. Besides, the bank providing credit stopped disbursement for the project.

Delegates performed the project's groundbreaking ceremony.

In a proactive move to address the challenges faced by investors and contractors, the Lang Son Provincial People's Committee submitted a report to the Government on March 6, 2024. The report requested consideration for 5,600 billion VND of central budget capital to ensure financial plans and resolve outstanding issues at the BOT Bac Giang - Lang Son project. The successful implementation of the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang border gate expressway is seen as a key step in resolving the financial plan for the Bac Giang - Lang Son expressway project.

Despite the challenges, Mr. Ho Minh Hoang, representing DEOCA investor, expressed unwavering determination to continue the project. He acknowledged the crucial role played by the Prime Minister and the leaders of Lang Son province in providing support and encouragement. The local authorities are also actively working on new projects while addressing the shortcomings of the Bac Giang - Lang Son project.

Huu Nghi—Chi Lang border gate expressway project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Lang Son province and the investor are determined to bring the project to its destination on time, meeting the expectations of the Party and State leaders and satisfying the expectations of the people of Lang Son province.

LĐH