Critical bottlenecks hold back Vietnam’s economic engine

Ho Chi Minh City is regarded as Vietnam’s primary economic engine, contributing nearly one-quarter of the country’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP). However, its strategic position has long been undermined by underdeveloped and overburdened transport infrastructure. Chronic traffic congestion has become a major obstacle, eroding competitiveness and disrupting the flow of goods across the southern key economic region.

The city’s transport infrastructure, particularly regional connectivity, is now a glaring weak spot. Key highways such as the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, the eastern backbone linking the city with Dong Nai Province and Long Thanh Airport, are severely overloaded. Designed for 44,000 vehicles per day, it currently serves over 63,500 – exceeding capacity by 50%. Traffic jams are routine, especially on weekends and holidays.

The same is true for the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway, which connects the city to the Mekong Delta. It handles about 56,000 vehicles daily, surpassing its design limits.

National highways like QL22 to Tay Ninh, QL13 to the Central Highlands, and QL1 and QL51 to Dong Nai and Vung Tau are similarly congested. These “bottlenecks” slow the entire southern region’s development by wasting time and fuel, hindering logistics and trade.

Massive transport investments aim to unlock growth

Over the years, the government and local authorities have crafted a comprehensive, interconnected strategy. Rather than isolated projects, they are developing an integrated network backed by hundreds of trillions of dong in investment.

Foremost is the Long Thanh International Airport (phase 1), with nearly 110 trillion VND (around 4.6 billion USD) in investment. Set to launch commercial operations by 2026, the airport will relieve pressure on Tan Son Nhat Airport and serve as a global air transit hub, drawing tourism and logistics development.

Ring Road 3, currently under construction, is viewed as the “backbone” of the region’s transport system. It will form a new economic corridor connecting major industrial zones in Dong Nai and Tay Ninh to airports and seaports, bypassing central Ho Chi Minh City.

On August 19, several pivotal projects broke ground, expected to drastically improve connectivity. Notably, the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway is underway at a cost of nearly 15 trillion VND (about 625 million USD). The project will widen 22km of highway to 8-10 lanes and include a new Long Thanh Bridge to improve traffic flow to the upcoming airport.

Three new expressways are also under construction:

Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai: Over 19.6 trillion VND (815 million USD), it’s the final piece connecting Tay Ninh with Cambodia, transforming it into a dynamic trade gateway.

Dau Giay - Tan Phu Expressway: 8.5 trillion VND (around 354 million USD), enhancing links between Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Central Highlands while reducing pressure on QL20.

Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh Expressway: A 19.9 trillion VND (827 million USD) investment forming part of the western North-South Expressway, promising a growth catalyst for northern Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and the Central Highlands.

Other major projects include:

Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway: 58km long, nearly 30 trillion VND (1.25 billion USD), directly linking the Mekong Delta to the Southeast. It will allow vehicles from the Delta to access Long Thanh Airport and Ba Ria - Vung Tau seaports without passing through Ho Chi Minh City.

Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway: 54km, over 17.8 trillion VND (751 million USD), aimed at easing traffic on QL1 and QL51, shortening travel from Dong Nai to Vung Tau. It will become a vital route for connecting industrial parks, ports, tourism zones, and Long Thanh Airport.

Tuan Kiet