HCMC eyes $1.67 bln Long Thanh-Ho Tram expressway to boost tourism connectivity
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have proposed a VND44 trillion ($1.67 billion) expressway linking the city's Ho Tram tourism hub with Long Thanh Internatipnal Airport in neighboring Dong Nai province, aiming to strengthen regional connectivity and unlock the tourism potential of Vietnam’s southeastern coast.
The planned Long Thanh-Ho Tram Expressway will stretch over 42 kilometers, designed with eight lanes and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The project is expected to require nearly 400 hectares of land, including parallel roads to support local traffic.
Under the proposal, the route will connect to Ring Road 4 and DT.991 at its starting point in Tan Thanh ward, before extending to the coastal DT.994 route in Xuyen Moc district.
The alignment has been designed to pass through sparsely populated areas, avoiding major reservoirs and complying with environmental planning requirements, including sections near the Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve.
The project is being proposed under a build-transfer (BT) model, with Masterise Long Thanh-Ho Tram Expressway Infrastructure JSC named as the investor. Payment would be structured through a combination of land allocation and state budget funds, with more than VND38 trillion ($1.44 billion) expected to be covered by land assets and nearly VND6.3 trillion ($239.23 million) from public finances.
The expressway is seen as a key transport artery connecting the Ho Tram-Xuyen Moc coastal tourism area with Long Thanh International Airport, which is under development.
Once operational, the route is expected to significantly reduce travel time, facilitating access for international visitors to beach resorts and supporting the growth of the marine economy in the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, which is now part of HCMC following an administrative merger last July.
The project is targeted to break ground around April 30, with completion slated for 2030, aligning with broader efforts to expand infrastructure capacity and support long-term economic growth in southern Vietnam.
Source: Hai Yen
Photo: Illustration of Long Thanh-Ho Tram Expressway