Some contractors allowed workers to rest on the afternoon of the 29th day of the lunar year and the morning of the first day of Tet, then continued mobilising personnel and equipment in “three shifts, four crews,” racing against time to accelerate project completion.
Behind construction sites illuminated every night is the determination of investors and contractors to bring projects to completion, ensuring quality according to requirements.
Target completion by mid-2027
Over the past year, Ha Noi has simultaneously commenced seven major bridges spanning the Red River: Hong Ha, Me So, Tu Lien, Ngoc Hoi, Van Phuc, Tran Hung Dao, and Thuong Cat. These are key pieces contributing to completing the capital’s master plan and developing modern urban space along both sides of the Red River.
Once operational, the bridges will help redistribute population density along the riverbanks and reduce traffic pressure in the city centre. According to the planned schedule, all seven bridges are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2027, before the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Thuong Cat Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge with pylons designed to curve and soar, symbolising the “wings of peace” associated with the thousand-year-old capital. The bridge is more than 5.2 km long, with the main span of 3.9 km and access roads of 1.3 km, featuring eight lanes (six for vehicles and two for light traffic), with a total investment of more than 7.3 trillion VND (279.7 million USD) from the city budget.
The project is significant in completing the transport framework, connecting the northern Red River area with central Ha Noi, and contributing to the completion of Ring Road 3.5.
During the Lunar New Year, the Thuong Cat construction site glowed through the night with welding sparks and floodlights. Hundreds of engineers and workers from Dinh An Group worked in shifts around the clock, leading construction output.
Chairman Cao Dang Hoat inspected and encouraged staff and workers late at night, stating: “Thuong Cat Bridge is a technically and architecturally complex project. Under the determined direction of the Party Secretary of Ha Noi and the project owner, the City Transport Construction Project Management Board, we identify this as a particularly important political task, striving to achieve the ‘three bests’: fastest construction, best quality, and most beautiful aesthetics.”
In just over three months of implementation, Dinh An Group achieved more than 60 billion VND (2.3 million USD) in output, accounting for about 5% of the contract value, leading the project.
Deputy General Director Duong Dinh Luan, in charge of construction fronts, stated that Dinh An is responsible for pier T31, anchor pier T32, and spans from T21 to T27, mobilising more than 200 engineers and workers. With experience in large cable-stayed bridges, the unit is confident in mastering construction technology and techniques, ensuring quality and aesthetics. The contractor plans to complete underwater works (bored piles, pier bases, etc.) before May to avoid the rainy season.
Construction at Tran Hung Dao Bridge is also progressing rapidly. The project owner, Sun Group, along with contractors, mobilised machinery and workers continuously, only resting from the afternoon of the 29th day to the morning of the first day of Tet. Although construction officially began on December 19, 2025, key components are already forming. Piers rising above the river promise an iconic structure worthy of the new era for the Capital.
Chief Engineer Pham Van Nam of Dat Phuong contractor, responsible for piers T5-T6, said the unit will complete them by the end of May at the latest to avoid the rainy season.
Nguyen Nam Thuy, Head of Tran Hung Dao Bridge Project Management Board (Sun Group), said the main bridge is 870 m long, consisting of six spans divided into two continuous sections, each span 145 m long, using a modern steel arch structure symbolising infinity, creating an architectural highlight on the Red River. During Tet, each contractor deployed two construction fronts for river piers. Due to the high schedule pressure and site difficulties, the owner worked intensively through Tet to resolve obstacles. From piers TC2 to TC7, contractors have completed 114/128 bored piles. If the entire site is handed over by the end of March, the owner commits to completing the project on schedule.
Not a single day of delay
The Phu Quoc International Airport expansion project (An Giang), a national key project serving APEC 2027, has an urgent schedule, targeting completion by the end of 2026. During Tet, nearly 1,600 technical staff, workers, supervisors, and project management personnel worked continuously. Maintaining almost 1,600 personnel on-site throughout Tet is an unprecedented effort, showing the high determination of the project owner.
Increasing shifts for Terminal T2 during Tet is expected to shorten the time for completing the roof structure and cladding, reducing pressure for later finishing stages. Airside components (second runway, taxiways, aprons, etc.) are also accelerated, enabling early operational readiness and infrastructure integration.
Since July 2025, key components have been intensively executed, with up to 700 large bored piles installed monthly. Within four months, the terminal had reached the fourth floor. The VIP terminal has completed all main and steel structures, and the second runway has achieved over 30% of its construction volume. The project aims to be completed by the end of 2026, just over a year of construction — a “record speed” in the aviation sector.
The nearly 18 km, 62 m-wide Route 975, connecting Phu Quoc Airport to the APEC Convention and Exhibition Centre, maintained nearly 100 workers working through Tet.
The APEC Convention and Exhibition Centre and Multi-purpose House project mobilised nearly 1,000 personnel from Coteccons, Dai Dung, QH Plus, and REE. Construction focused on the main structure to prepare for the steel framework stage. With additional manpower and continuous shifts, the steel structure of the Convention and Exhibition Centre is expected to be installed for four spans, significantly shortening the schedule and preparing for the peak construction stage after Tet.
Nguyen Tien Hop, Deputy Director of APEC 2027 PPP Projects (Sun Group), stated that maintaining construction during Tet takes advantage of favourable weather to accelerate progress, while also boosting the morale of staff and contractors, allowing immediate post-Tet continuation without losing a single day, reflecting the intensity and momentum of key national projects for APEC in Phu Quoc.
