Investment

The Ben Thanh - Tan Kien metro line (No. 3A) has become one of eight in Ho Chi Minh City approved by the Prime Minister, to create a mass public transport network in Vietnam’s largest urban area. The 20-km line has total investment of nearly VND68 trillion ($2.9 billion) and will use Japanese loans and technology.

Northern Hai Phong city officially kicked off construction of the Ben Rung Bridge on May 13, spanning the Da Bach River and connecting the city’s Thuy Nguyen district with Quang Yen town in Quang Ninh province. Investment is from the State budget, totaling over VND1.94 trillion ($84.03 million).

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has added Tan Cang Que Vo inland port in northern Bac Ninh province to the list of national inland ports. The port has a total area of 10 ha. Vietnam now has 10 inland ports, of which nine are located in northern cities and provinces.

Northern Thai Nguyen province held a breaking ground ceremony on May 12 for a road linking it with nearby Bac Giang and Vinh Phuc provinces. With total investment of nearly VND3.8 trillion ($164.19 million), the 42.5-km road will also connect with highways to Hanoi, helping to attract investment in Thai Nguyen and neighboring provinces and contributing to building Thai Nguyen into a center of the northern midland and mountainous economic region.

Three national highway projects, including the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Highway, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Highway, and the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Highway, with total investment of nearly VND85 trillion ($3.6 billion), are expected to be submitted to the National Assembly in May for review on public investment. There remain many doubts about the investment form of these projects.

The 7.5-km Cao Bang city bypass, with total investment of nearly VND222 billion ($9.66 million) from the State budget, has been approved by the Ministry of Transport (MoT). After being “suspended” for more than six years, the project is expected to be completed in 2024.