The project has witnessed steadfast support from the government, leaders, ministries, sectors, and local authorities. Additionally, the determination and resilience of officials, engineers, workers, and contractors have played a vital role in overcoming challenges and advancing the project.
Racing against time
As the final days of 2024 approached, Le Thang, Director of Projects’ Management Board 2 (under the Ministry of Transport), set aside office tasks in Hanoi and headed to the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon Expressway construction site, which is overseen by the unit and managed under a general contractor model. Director Le Thang’s frequent visits to construction sites throughout the year were not merely to monitor progress or coordinate with local authorities to address project challenges. They also served as a source of motivation and encouragement for workers and engineers who tirelessly persevered through the hardships of the "battlefield" of construction.
Spanning over 88 km across the provinces of Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh, the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon section is the largest and most expensive of the 12 sub-projects in the second phase (2021–2025) of the North-South Expressway, with an investment of nearly 20.5 trillion VND. Each day, engineers and project management staff face grueling 13–14 hour shifts. Their work involves coordinating with local authorities to resolve land clearance issues, inspecting on-site progress, and preparing documentation for rapid disbursement of funds. For many, the demands mean being away from home most of the month, managing to visit their families only 4–5 days.
“The workload is overwhelming. Some could not bear it and left the site. Over the past year, five project managers have resigned or transferred due to the intense pressure. As the head of the boad, I need to be present on-site regularly to support and encourage the team”, shared Director Le Thang. Despite the immense challenges, including relentless rain from October 2024 in the Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh areas, the team has been racing against time to meet the government-mandated 2025 deadline. Every hour is utilised to accelerate work on roadbeds, bridges, mountain tunnels, and other components to keep the project on track.
According to Bui Nhat Hien, Director of the Project Management Board, there are currently 50 construction fronts underway at the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon site, with over 4,000 workers and more than 1,750 pieces of machinery and equipment in use. All three project packages (XL01, XL02, XL03) operate in a “3 shifts, 4 teams” system, and for the tunnel sections, contractors have been working continuously 24/24 hours. Despite the challenges of land clearance and adverse weather conditions, the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon project achieved significant progress in 2024. From June to August 2024, land clearance was completed, and during peak months, the value of work completed on-site reached 500 billion VND, 1.5 to 2 times higher than previous months.
Looking at the broader picture of the North-South Expressway, in 2024, the Ministry of Transport successfully completed and put into operation seven projects, bringing the total length of highways across the country to 2,021 kilometres. The Ministry is continuing its efforts to ensure the completion of 3,000 killometres by 2025. In 2024, the Ministry of Transport was allocated nearly 75.5 trillion VND for public investment, and by the end of December 2024, around 60.2 trillion VND had been disbursed, meeting 80% of the plan, with a goal of reaching 95% by the end of the financial year.
Determined to complete 3,000 kilometres of expressway
The construction of the North-South Expressway (Phase II) has garnered significant attention from the government, with a focus on speeding up progress. A leader from the Ministry of Transport shared that, over time, the project has received strong support from the Government. The Prime Minister has personally visited the project site numerous times, addressing challenges and ensuring that bottlenecks related to land clearance and materials are gradually removed, allowing contractors to accelerate construction on various components. With land cleared and materials available, contractors for 10 sub-projects from Ha Tinh to Khanh Hoa have worked tirelessly, even increasing work shifts, helping to shorten the construction time by 3 to 6 months.
Following the launch of the "500 days and nights" campaign by the Prime Minister, construction sites have increased their workforce and equipment by 1.2 to 1.5 times, working all day. Witnessing workers stretching tarpaulins in the heavy rain to install expansion joints on newly constructed bridges illustrates the spirit of overcoming challenges—turning the slogan "overcoming the sun, conquering the rain" into concrete actions. Every project site has seen workers, engineers, and even business owners make personal sacrifices, whether in terms of profit or additional costs, demonstrating a shared commitment to completing this critical infrastructure.
According to Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh, 2025 will be a year of significant progress, marking a breakthrough toward achieving the nation's economic and social development goals for the 2021-2025 period. The Ministry has committed to completing 50 projects that will link the North-South Expressway, contributing to the goal of 3,000 kilometres of expressways being operational nationwide by 2025. These projects are essential in fulfilling the objectives set forth in the 13th Party Congress, the National Assembly, and the government's 10-year economic and social development strategy (2021-2030).
After nearly two decades of careful study and research, taking into account global best practices and adapting them to Vietnam's realities, the Ministry of Transport has completed its research and presented the high-speed rail investment plan for the North-South axis, which was approved by the Politburo and the Central Committee. The National Assembly approved this investment plan during its 8th session in November 2024.
In 2025, the Ministry of Transport is expected to receive a substantial public investment budget of 87 trillion VND. Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh emphasised that the ministry will implement strong, decisive, and coordinated measures to accelerate the disbursement of public investment. The leaders’ responsibility in ensuring successful disbursement will be closely linked to performance evaluations, making this a key criterion for assessing the completion of tasks in 2025 for leaders of agencies and units under the Ministry.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha assessed the Ministry of Transport's vital role in connecting various economic sectors, localities, and countries. As the infrastructure development sector, transportation has paved the way for prosperity, with advancements in road, rail, waterway, maritime, and aviation sectors creating breakthrough developments.
Focusing specifically on the road sector, nearly 1,200 kilometres of expressways were built in Vietnam over the past 20 years (up to 2021). However, in just three years (2021-2024), over 800 kilometres of expressways have been completed and put into operation, pushing the total length of expressways in the country past the 2,000 kilometre mark. This rapid progress reflects the government's determination to modernise transportation infrastructure and improve connectivity nationwide.
