Expressways of Vietnam

Expressways are a rather recent addition to the Vietnamese road network, and standardization has not been fully implemented. Ownership varies by expressway, they are financed, developed, owned and operated by either state-owned or private companies on behalf of the Ministry of Transport.^[2] For example, state-owned Vietnam Expressway Corporation owns and operates four expressways,^[3] but toll collection is done by subcontracted companies. The companies operating the expressways have to report traffic numbers and toll revenue to the Ministry of Transport and the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.^[4] This construction has been subject of fraud investigations several times, as toll revenue was falsified by the collecting companies in order to take advantage of the difference.^[5] The government has also threatened operating companies to revoke their toll collection licence after lack of maintenance caused dangerous situations on several expressways.^[6] In 2019 it was reported that the Vietnam Expressway Corporation was $3.7 billion USD in debt, and earning $137 million in revenue each year.^[7]

The total cost of the planned expressway network is estimated at $47.9 billion.^[8] Lack of funding has been an issue throughout the development of the expressway network, with both the government and private investors having difficulty in raising the required investment costs.^[9][10]

In 2019, the Ministry of Transport decided to exclude foreign investors from bidding on the North-South expressway, mainly to prevent Chinese companies from participating. Public backslash – due to strong anti-Chinese sentiment in the country – was feared if Chinese companies would collect toll fees, as well national security concerns playing a role in this decision.^[11][12] However, lack of bidders has led to low competition between the bids,^[13] and two out of five sections had not attracted any bids.^[14]

In 2020, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng petitioned to the National Assembly to switch development of the remaining sections of the North–South expressway to state funding instead of build-operate-transfer contracts, in order to avoid delays in raising capital and to reduce interest amount. He noted that Chinese provinces Yunnan and Guangxi built 2,000 kilometres (1,243 mi) of expressways in three years, whereas 1,300 kilometres (808 mi) of planned expressway in Vietnam should have been completed decades ago. If public funding would be approved, construction on the sections Vĩnh Hảo (vi)–Phan Thiết, Mai Son (Ninh Bình)–Highway 45 (Thanh Hóa) and Phan Thiết–Dầu Giây (connection to Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway) would start in 2021.^[15]

In a 2023 directive, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính instructed the Ministry of Transport to develop expressway design standards, as some of the expressways did not adhere to standards generally followed for expressways such as number of lanes, road width, operating speed and having continuous emergency lanes.^[16]

A new draft plan is for 2,542 km (1,580 mi) of new expressways to be completed before 2025 and an additional 1,339 km (832 mi) for before 2030.^[17]

Generally all cars, buses, trucks, types of tricycles (excluding motor cyclos) and motorcycles over 175cc (usually identified as xx + (A) + (1-9), where xx is the series of provinces according to regulations) are permitted on the expressway but công nông (agricultural vehicles) and motorcycles under 175cc (usually identified as xx + (B to Z) + (1-9), where xx is the series of provinces according to regulations) are not.^[18]

A minimum speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) is generally in effect, although there are sections with a minimum speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) in the middle and left lanes. The maximum speed anywhere is 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph), although sections with a lower maximum speed are common.

Expressways Network planning in 2023

North–South Expressway

Number	Name	Length	Lanes	Notes
CT.01	North–South Expressway East	2,063 kilometres (1,282 mi)[19]	4–10	Completed many expressway sections
CT.02	North–South Expressway West	1,205 kilometres (749 mi)[19]	4–6	Completed many expressway sections

Northern Regional Expressway

Number	Name	Length	Lanes	Notes
CT.03	Hanoi–Hoa Binh–Son La–Dien Bien Expressway	450 kilometres (280 mi)[19]	4–6	Completed Hoa Lac-Hoa Binh expressway first stage Completed Thang Long Boulevard expressway section
CT.04	Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway	105 kilometres (65 mi)[19]	6	Fully opened; formerly National Route 5B
CT.05	Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway	264 kilometres (164 mi)[19]	6	Fully opened. Connects to China's G8011 by Kim Thanh International Border Gate.
CT.06	Haiphong–Ha Long–Van Don–Mong Cai Expressway	175 kilometres (109 mi)[19]	6	Fully opened. Connects to China's G7511 by Bac Luan 2 Border Gate.
CT.07	Hanoi–Thai Nguyen–Bac Kan–Cao Bang Expressway	227 kilometres (141 mi)[19]	4–6	Hanoi–Thai Nguyen section complete
CT.08	Ninh Binh–Haiphong Expressway	109 kilometres (68 mi)[19]	4	Under construction
CT.09	Noi Bai–Bac Ninh–Ha Long Expressway	146 kilometres (91 mi)[19]	4	Noi Bai–Bac Ninh section complete
CT.10	Tien Yen–Lang Son–Cao Bang Expressway	215 kilometres (134 mi)[19]	4	Tan Thanh–Phúc Sen section under construction; Phúc Sen–Trà Lĩnh to begin construction after phase one is complete. Will connect to China's G69 by Tra Linh Border Gate.
CT.11	Phu Ly–Nam Dinh Expressway	50 kilometres (31 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.12	Yen Bai–Ha Giang Expressway	81 kilometres (50 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.13	Bao Ha–Lai Chau Expressway	203 kilometres (126 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.14	Cho Ben–Yen My Expressway	45 kilometres (28 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.15	Tuyen Quang–Ha Giang Expressway	165 kilometres (103 mi)[19]	4	Under construction. Will connect to China's G5615 by Thanh Thuy Border Gate.
CT.16	Hung Yen–Thai Binh Expressway	70 kilometres (43 mi)[19]	4	Proposed

Central Regional Expressway

Number	Name	Length	Lanes	Notes
CT.17	Vinh–Thanh Thuy Expressway	85 kilometres (53 mi)[19]	6	Proposed
CT.18	Vung Ang–Cha Lo Expressway	115 kilometres (71 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.19	Cam Lo–Lao Bao Expressway	70 kilometres (43 mi)[19]	4	Funding phase Was CT.11 before 2021
CT.20	Quy Nhon–Pleiku–Le Thanh Expressway	230 kilometres (140 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.21	Da Nang–Thach My–Ngoc Hoi–Bo Y Expressway	281 kilometres (175 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.22	Quang Nam–Quang Ngai Expressway	100 kilometres (62 mi) [19]	4	Proposed
CT.23	Phu Yen–Dak Lak Expressway	220 kilometres (140 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.24	Khanh Hoa–Buon Ma Thuot Expressway	130 kilometres (81 mi)[19]	4	Under construction
CT.25	Nha Trang–Lien Khuong Expressway	85 kilometres (53 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.26	Lien Khuong–Buon Ma Thuot Expressway	115 kilometres (71 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.42	Quang Ngai - Kon Tum Expressway	159 kilometres (99 mi)	4	Planned

Southern Regional Expressway

Number	Name	Length	Lanes	Notes
CT.27	Dau Giay–Dalat Expressway	220 kilometres (140 mi)[19]	4	Completed between Lien Khuong and Pass Prenn (Da Lat); was CT.14 before 2021
CT.28	Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway	54 kilometres (34 mi)[19]	6–8	Funding phase; was CT.13 before 2021
CT.29	Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway	55 kilometres (34 mi)[19]	6–10	Fully opened
CT.30	Ho Chi Minh–Chon Thanh–Hoa Lu Expressway	130 kilometres (81 mi)[19]	6	Proposed; was CT.15 before 2021
CT.31	Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway	53.5 kilometres (33.2 mi)[20]	6	Will connect to Cambodia's E1 Phnom Penh–Bavet Expressway, parallels QL 22, Funding phase; was CT.16 before 2021
CT.32	Go Dau–Xa Mat Expressway	65 kilometres (40 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.33	Ho Chi Minh City–Tien Giang–Ben Tre–Tra Vinh–Soc Trang Expressway	150 kilometres (93 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.34	Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway	191 kilometres (119 mi)[19]	6	Funding phase; was CT.17 before 2021
CT.35	Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway	212 kilometres (132 mi)[19]	4	Proposed
CT.36	Hong Ngu–Tra Vinh Expressway	188 kilometres (117 mi)[19]	4	Proposed

Hanoi Ring Road

Number	Name	Length	Lanes	Notes
CT.37	Hanoi Ring Road 3	55 kilometres (34 mi)[19]	6	Fully completed; was CT.20 before 2021
CT.38	Hanoi Ring Road 4	102 kilometres (63 mi)[19]	6	Funding phase; was CT.21 before 2021
CT.39	Hanoi Ring Road 5	272 kilometres (169 mi)[19]	6	Proposed

Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road

Number	Name	Length	Lanes	Notes
CT.40	Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3	92 kilometres (57 mi)[19]	8	Completed many expressway sections; was CT.22 before 2021
CT.41	Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4	199 kilometres (124 mi)[19]	8	Funding phase

Expressways Network planning in 2015

Number	Name	Length	Notes
CT.01	North–South Expressway East	1,811 kilometres (1,125 mi)	Completed many expressway sections
CT.02	North–South Expressway West	1,269 kilometres (789 mi)	Some sections under construction
CT.03	Hanoi–Cao Bang Expressway	143 kilometres (89 mi)	Completed Hanoi-Chi Lang (Lang Son) section Hanoi–Chi Lang now part of the CT.01 and Tien Yen–Lang Son–Cao Bang split off to CT.10
CT.04	Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway	106 kilometres (66 mi)	Fully opened
CT.05	Hanoi–Lao Cai Expressway	264 kilometres (164 mi)	Yen Bai-Lao Cai: phase 1 completed
CT.06	Noi Bai–Ha Long–Mong Cai Expressway	304 kilometres (189 mi)	Hanoi-Bac Ninh and Ha Long-Mong Cai sections completed Now part of CT.09
CT.07	Hanoi–Thai Nguyen Expressway	70 kilometres (43 mi)	Hanoi–Thai Nguyen–Cho Moi section complete; Cho Moi–Bac Kan section to begin construction in September 2022
	Thai Nguyen–Bac Kan–Cao Bang Expressway	43 kilometres (27 mi)
CT.08	Hanoi–Hoa Binh Expressway	56 kilometres (35 mi)	Lang–Hoa Lac complete Hoa Lac–Hoa Binh: phase 1 completed In 2022, lengthened to Dien Bien and renumbered to CT.03
CT.09	Ninh Binh–Haiphong–Quang Ninh Expressway	160 kilometres (99 mi)	Haiphong–Ha Long section completed In 2022, shortened to Haiphong and renumbered to CT.08; Haiphong–Quang Ninh section split off to CT.06
CT.10	Hong Linh–Huong Son Expressway	34 kilometres (21 mi)
CT.11	Cam Lo–Lao Bao Expressway	70 kilometres (43 mi)	Renumbered to CT.19 in 2022
CT.12	Quy Nhon–Pleiku Expressway	160 kilometres (99 mi)	Now part of the CT.20
CT.13	Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway	76 kilometres (47 mi)	Under construction Renumbered to CT.28 in 2022
CT.14	Dau Giay–Dalat Expressway	220 kilometres (140 mi)	Lien Khuong–Pass Prenn (Dalat) complete Dau Giay–Lien Khuong: Investing in building only 4 lanes in September 2023 Renumbered to CT.27 in 2022
CT.15	Ho Chi Minh City–Thu Dau Mot–Chon Thanh Expressway	69 kilometres (43 mi)	Renumbered to CT.30 in 2022
CT.16	Ho Chi Minh City–Moc Bai Expressway	55 kilometres (34 mi)	Renumbered to CT.31 in 2022
CT.17	Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway	200 kilometres (120 mi)	Under construction Renumbered to CT.34 in 2022
CT.18	Ha Tien–Rach Gia–Bac Lieu Expressway	225 kilometres (140 mi)	Renumbered to CT.35
CT.19	Can Tho–Ca Mau Expressway	150 kilometres (93 mi)	Under construction Merged into the CT.01 in 2022
CT.20	Hanoi Ring Road 3	55 kilometres (34 mi)	Renumbered to CT.37 in 2022
CT.21	Hanoi Ring Road 4	125 kilometres (78 mi)	Under construction Renumbered to CT.38 in 2022
CT.22	Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3	89 kilometres (55 mi)	Under construction Renumbered to CT.40 in 2022

• Transport in Vietnam

• Website of the Ministry of Transport