The Son La Provincial People’s Committee has submitted Proposal No. 189/TTr-UBND to the Prime Minister for appraisal of a pre-feasibility study for the Moc Chau–Son La–Dien Bien Expressway (CT.03) section passing through the province. The project is considered nationally significant, playing a pivotal role in improving infrastructure, enhancing regional connectivity, and supporting defence and security along the northern border.
According to the proposal, the section through Son La Province will be approximately 182km long. Its starting point will intersect with National Highway 43 (Van Son Ward, Son La Province), connecting with the Hoa Binh–Moc Chau Expressway, while the endpoint will lie at the Son La–Dien Bien provincial boundary, linking to the route leading to Tay Trang Border Gate.
The route will pass through 17 communes and wards and will be built to expressway standards, with four lanes, a roadbed width of 22 metres, and a design speed of 80km/h.
To implement the project, around 2,230 hectares of land will be required, affecting approximately 950 households, of which 770 will need to be resettled. The preliminary total investment is estimated at 59.588 trillion VND, to be sourced from both central and local budgets during the 2026–2030 period.
Son La Province has proposed starting investment preparations in 2026, with completion targeted for 2030. It has also suggested special mechanisms for capital appraisal, contractor selection, and construction material supply to accelerate progress.
At present, transport connectivity from Ha Noi to Dien Bien relies mainly on National Highways 6 and 279, mountain routes with complex terrain and safety risks from landslides and fog. The CT.03 expressway is expected to reduce reliance on these routes, shorten travel times, and improve transport efficiency and regional competitiveness.
According to the overall study orientation, the entire route from Moc Chau to Tay Trang Border Gate will span approximately 305km. To ensure synchronisation, the Ministry of Construction has proposed allocating an additional 4.476 trillion VND to expand the Hoa Binh–Moc Chau Expressway from two lanes to four.
Once completed, the Moc Chau–Son La–Dien Bien Expressway will form a strategic transport corridor linking the Red River Delta with the north-western region, while also expanding trade connectivity with Laos via Tay Trang Border Gate.
The project is expected to drive socio-economic development and support the implementation of targets set out in the 14th National Party Congress Resolution and relevant Politburo resolutions.
Early implementation of the project is anticipated to remove infrastructure bottlenecks, creating a foundation for Son La and Dien Bien Provinces to promote sustainable poverty reduction, better harness their tourism and agricultural potential, and further strengthen national defence and security in the border area.
