The Ministry of Transport (MoT) plans to begin projects upgrading three national highways in the Mekong Delta this year.

Total investment in the projects is estimated at over VND9.32 trillion ($388 million), of which over VND6.28 trillion ($261 million) will be sourced from World Bank (WB) loans.

The first project will upgrade a section of National Highway No. 53 running through Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces at a length of 41 km.

A 69-km section of National Highway No. 62 in Long An province will also be upgraded, starting from the intersection with the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong expressway section.

The third project will upgrade the 142-km National Highway No. 91B.

All of the highways will have a roadbed width of 12 meters and a speed limit of 80 kph.

The projects are expected to help improve the traffic network linking cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta and contribute to local socio-economic development, according to the MoT.