Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh told the first session of the 16th National Assembly on April 20 that the 2026-2030 plan calls for investing in and upgrading 1,721 km of expressway. The plan implements a directive from the 2nd plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee earlier this month, which sets a minimum target of more than 5,000 km of expressway in operation by 2030.
Vietnam currently has 3,345 km of expressway open to traffic, a network that has grown rapidly over the past decade but still lags regional peers on density. Nearly two-thirds of what exists is either two-lane or limited four-lane, specifications authorities now want to raise to full four or six-lane standards. National expressway density stands at 2.23 km per 100 sq.km, with the Mekong Delta leading at 4.43.
The master plan through 2050 envisions 43 expressway routes covering 8,993 km, of which 6,539 km are to be completed before 2030. Another 1,252 km are already under construction and scheduled to open by 2027.
Traffic on Phap Van-Cau Gie Expressway in northern Vietnam. Photo by Read/Pham Chieu |
Minh said metro line plans for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will require a further VND743.907 trillion ($28.25 billion). The two cities together have only three metro lines running so far, one in Ho Chi Minh City and two in Hanoi. Under the plan, Hanoi will eventually have 18 lines and Ho Chi Minh City 12, for a combined 2,224 km of track.
Beyond the metros, the minister laid out long-distance rail priorities including the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City high-speed line, Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong, Hanoi-Lang Son, Hai Phong-Ha Long-Mong Cai, and Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho-Ca Mau routes. Vietnam’s full rail master plan runs to 25 lines and 6,658 km.
Vietnam’s national highway network, separate from expressways, now spans 24,376 km.
Local governments manage 17,520 km, with the Ministry of Construction retaining control of 4,875 km that mostly serves national defense, security, or BOT toll concessions.
Coastal roads, a relatively new priority, have reached 1,701 km with another 340 km under construction across 10 provinces.
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