As a result, the provincial transport infrastructure has been continuously improving, creating new momentum and bringing clear effectiveness to its socio-economic development.
Positive signals
The expressway from Thai Nguyen to Cho Moi (Bac Kan) has opened new opportunities for communes in remote areas of Cho Moi District. Not only has it cut the travel time from Thai Nguyen to Bac Kan to just about an hour, this expressway has also helped boost investment in Thanh Binh Industrial Park.
Before the inauguration of the new expressway, Thanh Binh Industrial Park had very few investors. But now, more and more companies have chosen to invest here. Liu Yu Long, Deputy General Director of Leechenwood Vietnam Co., Ltd., said that besides the abundant raw materials for wood processing, one of the conditions for the company to choose to invest in Bac Kan was the improved transport infrastructure. The company’s goods now take only about five hours to reach Hai Phong Port.
Thanh Binh Industrial Park has attracted many businesses in wood processing, agricultural processing and mineral processing. In 2024 alone, the factories here generated total revenue of 2.5 trillion VND (98 million USD), brought in 69 million USD from exports, and created new jobs for 2,300 workers.
Ha Sy Thuong, Deputy Head of Bac Kan Province’s Industrial Parks Management Board, said that thanks to convenient transport links, investment attraction to Thanh Binh Industrial Park has become vibrant in recent years. The management board is proceeding with procedures to expand the industrial park, while advising the province to invest in additional Cho Moi 1 and Cho Moi 2 Industrial Parks.
Previously, there was only one route from Hanoi to Bac Kan — National Highway 3. However, this road was small and narrow, with many dangerous passes, slopes and cliff faces, making it very difficult for cargo vehicles to travel. Therefore, many investors had to turn back, as investment profits would be eclipsed by high logistics costs.
After the completion of the expressway from Thai Nguyen to Cho Moi, and with the Ministry of Transport expected to begin construction of an expressway from Cho Moi to Bac Kan City in late December, many investors have proactively implemented their projects.
The export footwear manufacturing project by Chung Jye Bac Kan-Vietnam Co., Ltd. officially began construction at Huyen Tung Industrial Cluster in June 2024. The factory has a capacity of 10 million pairs of shoes and sandals per year with a total investment of about 25 million USD, attracting around 5,000 workers (the largest in Bac Kan Province).
After nearly six months of construction, the project has been 70% completed, with some main components basically finished. Moving forward, the company plans to invest in additional footwear manufacturing factories in Ngan Son and Na Ri Districts, with a capacity of about 1.5 million pairs of shoes and sandals per year at each location, a total investment of 15 million USD, and attracting approximately 1,500 to 2,000 workers.
Tran Cong Hoa, Director of the Bac Kan Department of Planning and Investment, said that the significant improvement in transport infrastructure is driving the province’s socio-economic development. In the near future, when the network of lateral transport routes connecting to main axes is upgraded, renovated, and newly opened, Bac Kan will certainly have additional new growth momentum.
Creating sustainable momentum
According to the Bac Kan Department of Planning and Investment, in previous periods, investment resources for transport infrastructure were limited. Specifically, the total investment capital for transport infrastructure managed by the province was 3.574 trillion VND during the 2010-2015 period, and 3.48 trillion VND during the 2016-2020 period.
In the 2021-2025 period, the province has been allocated significant resources for transport infrastructure, with total capital of 5.31 trillion VND for 17 completed projects and 42 ongoing and new projects. Additionally, the central government allocated 5.7 trillion VND for the Cho Moi-Bac Kan Expressway project. Thus, the total investment capital for transport infrastructure in this period is more than three times that of previous periods.
Notable major transport projects currently being implemented in Bac Kan include: the road linking Bac Kan City, Ba Be Lake and Na Hang (Tuyen Quang); transport infrastructure around Ba Be Lake; Quang Khe-Khang Ninh Road; the Cho Moi-Bac Kan Expressway, which is scheduled to begin construction in December 2024; and the Bac Kan-Cao Bang Expressway, which is undergoing preparation for investment.
According to Nghiem Van Thep, Deputy Director of the Bac Kan Department of Transport, the province focuses on planning, developing strategic vision, and proactively proposing to the central government about the necessity and urgency of investing in transport.
In the 2020-2025 period, the province is implementing its largest transport projects ever, with investment capital reaching thousands of billions of VND. In the coming time, the province plans to continue completing the network of lateral connections with vertical axes, with a focus on constructing the Bac Kan-Cao Bang Expressway.
Transport infrastructure development is a key objective and central task in the resolution of Bac Kan Provincial Party Congress. Therefore, for the first time, Bac Kan Province has established a steering committee for key transport projects, headed by the provincial Party secretary. Several key transport projects are under special supervision regarding progress and quality. Many inspection and supervision visits are conducted by the steering committee directly at construction sites to understand the situation and promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles.
Bac Kan has identified the 2025-2030 period as the time to accelerate the completion of its transport network. The province aims to invest in the four-lane Thai Nguyen-Bac Kan-Cao Bang Expressway, and construct five interchanges on the Thai Nguyen-Cho Moi-Bac Kan Expressway.
According to the Bac Kan Department of Transport, the province has proposed increasing public investment for the 2026-2030 period. Specifically, the Bac Kan-Cao Bang Expressway requires an investment of over 18.3 trillion VND from the central budget. For other projects, the province proposes to invest more than 11.9 trillion VND for the 2026-2030 period.
With such a roadmap, in the coming period, Bac Kan’s transport network will be significantly improved, creating inter-regional connections that helped foster economic growth for this mountainous province.
