On August 19, 2025, in Cao Bang province, the groundbreaking ceremony for phase 2 of Dong Dang (Lang Son province) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang province) expressway was held.

The event was part of a national program marking the 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies for 250 projects and works at 80 locations across the country.

Building a new milestone for the transportation sector

The overall view of the event.

In his opening speech, Mr. Quan Minh Cuong, Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee, stated that with strong guidance from the Government and central ministries, along with the support and determination of the authorities and people of both Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces, Phase 1 of the expressway had been implemented promptly and effectively. This was a collaborative effort involving various departments, investors, and project companies. The expressway is gradually taking shape and bringing great hope for transforming transport infrastructure and accelerating socio-economic development in both provinces.

To meet the goal of opening phase 1 route in 2025 and to prepare for phase 2, the joint venture of investors and contractors has mobilized 3.229 personnel and 1.456 machinery across 287 construction fronts. The project has achieved 152 million USD in output out of a total of 404 million USD (38% of the contract value), which represents 60% of the output required to open the route in 2025

According to Mr. Quan Minh Cuong, the efficient implementation of phase 1 laid a solid foundation and a vital incentive for both provinces and the investor consortium to commence phase 2 of the project.

“With the determination of all parties, the project will be completed one year ahead of schedule. This is a record-breaking achievement, especially in the history of Vietnam’s transport sector,” he emphasized.

Mr. Quan Minh Cuong, Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee spoke at the ceremony.

Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway has a total length of 121 km, with an overall investment of nearly 875 million USD, divided into two phases. Phase 1, which commenced on January 1, 2024, covers 93.35 km, including two mountain tunnels and 64 overpasses.

Phase 2 is implemented under the PPP model that involves expanding the 93.35 km of phase 1 and building an additional 26.47 km of new road to the Tra Linh border gate. The total investment for this phase is 459.1 million USD, with State budget capital accounting for 319.4 million USD (69.58%). This phase includes 17 new bridges and 3 new tunnels and is expected to be completed by December 2027.

The consortium of investors includes DEOCA Group JSC, 568 Construction Investment Group JSC, Hoang Long Construction Investment Corporation, 559 DCT Investment JSC, and Tan Thanh JSC.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Mr. Ho Minh Hoang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DEOCA Group, said phase 1 was originally scheduled for completion in December 2026. However, following the Prime Minister’s directive to open the expressway from Cao Bang province to Ca Mau province by 2025, the investor, also the general contractor, adjusted the plan. They have mobilized all resources to shorten the schedule by nearly 10 months despite facing the most complex geological conditions and unfavorable weather, particularly during the last 3 rainy months.

Mr. Ho Minh Hoang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DEOCA Group spoke at the ceremony.

According to Mr. Hoang, the completion of phase 1 will be a new milestone, and when both phases are finished, it will serve as a tribute from the infrastructure builders to Cao Bang. He also expressed deep gratitude to General Secretary To Lam for his encouragement.

For the road to be clear, responsibility must be clear

Once completed, Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway, together with Bac Giang – Lang Son and Huu Nghi – Chi Lang expressways, will form a strategic transport corridor linking Hanoi with Cao Bang. This route will not only open a new gateway and unlock the potential of border regions, but it will also promote socio-economic development, improve local livelihoods, and strengthen national defense and security.

Machinery and equipment are ready to begin construction immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony.

Referring to the Bac Giang – Lang Son expressway project, Chairman of DEOCA Group said that since 2017, the investor has taken over and implemented the project, which has a total investment of over 456 million USD, without using any State capital. “From the very beginning, we collaborated with the Ministry of Public Security and Phu Tho Provincial Police to resolve legal issues so that the project could be properly transferred. During implementation, the State Audit audited the project five times and concluded that it was carried out legally, while also recommending that competent authorities address some existing issues,” he affirmed

To enhance the effectiveness of the public-private partnership (PPP) model, Mr. Hoang proposed that relevant agencies continue to address obstacles, improve policies, and build trust and security for businesses. Only then can the private sector develop sustainably and fully commit to partnering with the State on major projects. Specifically:

Firstly, he proposed that the Prime Minister and leaders of the Ministry of Construction issue a unified directive requiring all relevant agencies to cooperate closely and support businesses during project implementation. The responsibility and timeline for processing documents and carrying out land clearance must be clearly defined with a “countdown clock” mechanism that specifies the responsibilities of each party. Additionally, he recommended that this information be widely publicized in the media so that the public can monitor progress, quality, and transparency. The guiding principle is: “For the road to be clear, responsibility must be clear.”

Secondly, he proposed that the leaders of Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces must collaborate and support businesses in their work with relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Public Security and the State Audit. He suggested reporting to the Prime Minister so that the Government Inspectorate would rely on previous inspection and audit results to save time, avoid wasting resources, and facilitate project implementation. This reflects the spirit that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: “Shared risks, shared benefits; discuss how to do it, not how to retreat.”

The implementation of phase 2 of Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway launched while phase 1 is in its final stages. This will maximize the investor’s capability, effectively utilize human resources and equipment, avoid waste, and optimize the entire route’s operation.

The delegates performed the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Chairman of DEOCA Group extended his gratitude to the leaders of the Party and the State for their close guidance, as well as to the authorities of Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces and other related units for their cooperation. He also thanked the people of the local ethnic communities for their support throughout the project’s research and implementation phases.

“We came to Cao Bang by choice and stayed out of responsibility. DEOCA Group and our investor – contractor partners will continue to work closely with the government and the people to see this project through to completion.

… I believe that all of us, regardless of our different positions, share the common goal of successfully completing the entire Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway. Thereby, creating a development future for this revolutionary homeland and completing the national transport infrastructure system to create breakthroughs and economic achievements in the rising era,” Mr. Ho Minh Hoang emphasized.

News: Tuan Khang – Photo: Hieu Nguyen