Construction of two new sections along the 2,744-km Ho Chi Minh Highway kicked off on March 6.

The projects are the 11.2-km Rach Soi - Ben Nhat section in the Mekong Delta’s Kien Giang province, and the 40.6-km Go Quao - Vinh Thuan section in nearby Bac Lieu province.

Construction is estimated to cost over VND3.9 trillion ($163 million).

Under the national road network plan in the 2021-2030 period and vision to 2050, the sections will initially have two lanes and a speed limit of 80 kph before being upgraded to four lanes.

The projects are scheduled for completion in late 2025.

The Ho Chi Minh Highway runs through 28 cities and provinces, from Pac Po in northern Cao Bang province to Dat Mui in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, with total estimated investment capital of VND99.2 trillion ($4.1 billion). Construction of the first phase began in April 2000.