Large-scale project kick-offs get Vietnam moving forward

In the final days of April, dozens of large-scale ventures across Vietnam were inaugurated in celebration of National Reunification Day, with total investment reaching tens of billions of US dollars.

- Nguyen Hoang reports.

A defining milestone is the full opening of the North-South Expressway, running from Lang Son province to Ca Mau province, scheduled for April 30. In particular, four final sections across the central region are being accelerated for completion, marking the final step in realising a continuous national backbone of connectivity. The eastern North-South Expressway portion comprises 12 subprojects, eight of which have already been completed or are ahead of schedule.

Nguyen The Minh, deputy director general of the Authority for Construction Economics and Investment Management under the Ministry of Construction, said project management units and contractors have worked intensively and in close coordination to bring these components into operation.

“Projects can no longer be put into temporary operation as before. Instead, they must fully complete all acceptance, handover, and asset verification procedures before meeting the conditions for operation. In particular, the handover process is also linked to asset valuation, which involves complex procedures requiring time and coordination among multiple parties,” he said.

Supporting activities

In Ho Chi Minh City, seven huge undertakings have broken ground in the last days of April. The largest in scale is the Can Gio International Transhipment Port, with a total investment of $5.1 billion. Developed by the consortium of Vietnam Maritime Corporation, Saigon Port, and Terminal Investment Limited Holding, the port is designed to handle up to 21 million TEU annually in its first phase and accommodate vessels of up to 24,000 TEU.

It is projected to generate annual revenues of $1.3-1.6 billion and create 6,000-8,000 direct jobs, positioning Ho Chi Minh City as a regional maritime hub.