Road network plan in a period of 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050

I. Viewpoints, objectives
1. Viewpoints
- Road infrastructure plays an important role in socio-economic infrastructure, which is identified as one of three strategic breakthroughs that need to be prioritized for synchronous and modern investment, creating a premise for socio-economic development, associating with ensuring national defense and security, social security, climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
- Developing road infrastructure step by step synchronously, modernly, ensuring safety; effectively connecting among traffic types and among national road system and local road system; connecting regions, transport hubs and other countries; promoting its strengths as a flexible and effective method for short and medium distances, assisting in collection and release of goods and passengers for other modes of transport.
- Road infrastructure system is planned to ensure a harmonious and reasonable balance in terms of geography, population, economic scale, regional and regional development needs and investment efficiency; consistent with other plans and plan orientations, ensuring long-term vision; creating new urban space for economic development for localities, effectively exploiting land resources.
- Mobilize all resources to invest in development of road infrastructure systems, especially expressways; promoting form of public-private cooperation, in which the State capital plays a supporting and leading role to attract maximum resources from other economic sectors; institutionalize solutions on decentralization and decentralization in resource mobilization and implementation for localities.
- Actively approach and promote application of modern science and technology, especially achievements of fourth industrial revolution in construction, management and exploitation in order to limit environmental pollution and save money, energy saving, efficient use of natural resources.
2. Objectives
a) Objectives to 2030
Developing a road traffic network step by step synchronously with a number of modern and high-quality works, meeting needs of socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security, improving competitiveness of the economy, curbing towards gradually reducing traffic accidents and limiting environmental pollution, forming a reasonable transportation system among modes of transport, contributing to basically turning our country into a developing country, developing modern industry with high average income by 2030 with a number of specific goals as follows:
- In terms of transportation, volume of transported goods reaches about 2,764 million tons (62.80% of the market share); passengers reaches about 9,430 million passengers (90.16% market share); volume of domestic goods circulation reaches about 162.7 billion tons.km (30.48% market share); domestic passengers 283.6 billion passengers.km drifted about (72.83% market share).
- Regarding infrastructure, forming a system of highways connecting economic and political centers, key economic regions, seaports and international gateway airports; to step by step upgrade national highways, specifically:
+ To basically complete inter-regional highways, connecting international gateway seaports, international airports, major international border gates with large import and export demand and high-class cities, in particular, class I; conveniently connecting national highways to seaports of class II, international airports, large inland waterway ports, major railway stations and urban traffic hubs of class II and below. Striving to complete construction of about 5,000 km of expressways.
+ Focus on upgrading road surface, enhancing traffic safety system, dealing with black spots, renovating and upgrading weak bridges on national highways and upgrading a number of key national highways connecting to hubs. Major transport (seaports, inland waterway ports, airports, railway stations) do not have parallel expressways.
b) Orientation to 2050
To complete road network throughout the country in a synchronous and modern manner, ensuring reasonable connection and development between modes of transport. Transport quality and services are improved, ensuring convenience, safety and reasonable costs.
II. Road network plan
1. Expressway system
Expressway network is planned for 41 routes with a total length of about 9,014 km, specifically;
a) North - South vertical axis
- North-South expressway to the east from Huu Nghi border gate, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province to Ca Mau city, Ca Mau province, is about 2,063 km long with a scale of 4 to 10 lanes.
- North-South Expressway to the west from Tuyen Quang city, Tuyen Quang province to Rach Gia city, Kien Giang province, about 1,205 km in length with a scale of 4 to 6 lanes.
b) Northern area, including 14 routes, about 2,305 km in length, with size from 4 to 6 lanes.
c) Central region and the Central Highlands, including 10 routes, about 1,431 km in length with a scale of 4 to 6 lanes.
d) Southern area, including 10 routes, about 1,290 km in length with a scale of 4 to 10 lanes.
e) Urban belt of Hanoi capital and Ho Chi Minh City:
- Hanoi urban belt, including 3 routes about 429 km in length (excluding sections that coincide with other highways) with 6 lanes.
- Urban belt of Ho Chi Minh City, including 2 routes, about 291 km in length, with 8 lanes.
2. Highway system
National highway network consists of 172 routes with a total length of about 29,795 km, specifically:
a) North - South vertical axis
- National Highway 1: From Huu Nghi border gate, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province to Nam Can district, Ca Mau province, about 2,482 km in length, meeting grade III standards, 4 lanes.
- Ho Chi Minh road: From Pac Bo, Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province to Dat Mui, Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province, about 1,762 km in length, meeting minimum standard of grade III, 2-4 lanes.
b) Northern area
- Major national highways, including 21 routes, about 6,954 km in length, with a minimum scale of grade III, 2 to 6 lanes, some sections of the route through difficult terrain areas, at least grade IV, 2 lanes car.
- A minor national highway, including 34 routes, about 4,007 km in length, with a minimum scale of grade III, 2 to 4 lanes, some sections of the route through difficult terrain areas, at least grade IV, 2 lanes car.
- National highways in the area of Hanoi Capital from the 4th belt onward are organized, managed and maintained according to Law on Capital.
c) Central region and Central Highlands
- Major national highways, including 24 routes, about 4,407 km in length, with a minimum scale of grade III, 2 to 4 lanes, some sections passing through difficult terrain areas, at least grade IV, 2 lanes car.
- A minor national highway, consisting of 47 routes, about 4,618 km in length, with a minimum scale of grade III, 2 to 4 lanes, some sections of the route through difficult terrain areas, at least grade IV, 2 lanes car.
d) Southern area
- Major national highways, including 17 routes, about 2,426 km in length, with a minimum scale of class III, 2 to 4 lanes, some routes with large traffic volume of class III, 4 to 6 lanes.
- A minor national highway, consisting of 27 routes, about 3,139 km in length, with a minimum planning scale of grade III, 2 to 4 lanes.
- National highways in Ho Chi Minh City are managed and maintained by the locality.
e) A number of national highways do not meet criteria as prescribed in Law on Road Traffic and the sections of national highways passing through urban areas have built bypasses and turned into local roads. Ministry of Transport is responsible for reviewing control and hand over to localities for management.
III. Investment orientation
1. Plan scale is the scale calculated according to forecast demand. During implementation process, depending on transport needs and investment resource capacity, investment policy decision-making authority decides investment divergence to ensure project efficiency.
2. For investment planning projects after 2030, in case localities have investment needs to serve socio-economic development and mobilize resources, report to Prime Minister for approval.
3. Route sections passing through the provincial plan area have a larger scale, in order to ensure synchronization between the plans, the central budget invested capital sources under this plan, local budget invested capital sources.
4. Local roads plan to become national highways in this decision will only be upgraded to national highways after being invested to ensure scale of technical standards according to plan and not lower than the scale of grade IV, 2-lane roads.
5. During implementation of the plan, depending on transportation needs and resource capacity, research and invest in a number of urban bypass routes, avoiding dangerous mountain pass locations that are unsafe for traffic. For ring roads of Hanoi capital and Ho Chi Minh City, sections of expressways through urban areas, depending on requirements of urban development, will consider and decide on construction option of viaducts or normal roads.
IV. Orientation for development of local road system
1. Plan of local roads and roads shall comply with plan on development of traffic network in provincial plan specified at Point d, Clause 2, Article 27 of Law on Plan.
2. Urban road system shall be developed in accordance with plan on spatial development and urban architecture, ensuring consistency, synchronism and interconnection with regional and national transport networks. To strive for an average rate of land fund for urban road traffic infrastructure of 16-26% compared with urban construction land fund.
3. To basically complete rural transport infrastructure network, 100% of district and commune roads will be of technical grade, meeting transport demand in rural areas.
4. Coastal road has a total length of about 3,034 km, the minimum size of grade III and IV roads, alignment of sections that do not coincide with national highways and expressways is decided in the provincial plan. Sections that run concurrently with national highway according to the national highway scale; the remaining sections according to provincial plan (details in appendix III).
5. In order to ensure synchronization, plan connecting routes are local roads or specialized roads connecting national road system with traffic hubs (border gates, seaports, inland waterway ports, land, railway station, airport, etc.). Size and specific alignment of these sections are decided in the provincial plan and identified as priority investment projects (details are in appendix IV).
6. Investors in economic zones, residential areas, urban areas and works with large traffic volumes must build a system of collection roads to connect with highways and national highways in these areas. Locations directly connecting to national highway system must be approved by the competent road State management agency before implementation.
V. Environmental protection and land use demand
1. Environmental protection
- Carry out environmental impact assessment of projects during implementation of the plan; integrate factors of climate change, sea level rise, efficient use of resources in implementation of projects; supervise implementation of regulations on environmental protection for traffic construction and exploitation projects, give priority to application of new environmentally friendly technologies to minimize negative impacts on environment.
- Building a modern public transport system combining with efficient use of fuel in traffic activities, especially urban traffic, to reduce pollution. Means of transport must have technical and quality standards with environmental protection requirements.
- Reduce traffic activities that pollute environment. Respect and protect landscapes, historical sites and cultural heritages.
2. Land use demand: Land area occupied by road network plan is 201,630 hectares, of which occupied area is about 84,752 hectares, the need for additional area is about 116,878 hectares.
VI. Investment capital needs
Demand for investment capital for road network by 2030 is expected to be about VND 900,000 billion, mobilized from the State budget, non-budget capital and other legal capital sources.
VII. Projects of national importance, projects prioritized for investment in a period of 2021-2030
1. North-South expressway to the east from Lang Son to Ca Mau; expressways connecting northern region, connecting central region with the Central Highlands, the Southeast region and the Mekong Delta.
2. Ring highways and routes connecting with Hanoi Capital and Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Main national highways have nature of international connection, inter-regional connection.
VIII. Solution for plan implementation
1. Solutions on mechanisms and policies
- Review, revise and complete legal framework system, propose pilot a number of specific mechanisms and policies to mobilize all resources and shorten investment progress of road infrastructure; evaluate and replicate successful models of investment attraction in form of public-private partnerships at the central and local levels.
- Develop a mechanism to strengthen decentralization in investment and management of transport infrastructure system in direction of assigning localities, competent authority and the decision-making body on road infrastructure investment.
- Amending and supplementing regulations on financial support mechanisms and policies, taxes, prices, charges and fees in line with market mechanism to increase commerciality of road infrastructure projects.
2. Solutions on human resource development
- Developing high-quality human resources; closely associate human resource development with development and application of science and technology.
- Implementing human resource training programs in field of digital transformation, application and development of new technologies, prioritizing digital technology in road traffic infrastructure management and investment and public service management.
3. Solutions on environment, science and technology
- Developing safe, efficient and environmentally friendly road transport. Research and apply advanced science, technology and new materials in the management, construction and maintenance of works and in field of transportation in accordance with natural geo-conditions, to cope with negative changes in environment according to characteristics of each region in the country.
- Develop and complete standards, regulations, unit prices and norms in fields of survey, design, construction, acceptance, maintenance, materials in accordance with international standards and practical conditions, specific to Vietnam.
- Complete database system on road infrastructure system; research, construction, use of software to support plan investment, maintenance of road traffic works.
- Strengthen application of information technology to management, operation, exploitation and collection of electronic tolls nationwide.
4. Solutions for cooperation and development cooperation
- Implement effectively cooperation programs with localities in management of road traffic safety corridors, investment implementation.
- Strengthen linkages and cooperation with countries in region and countries with developed roads to transfer construction management and investment technologies.
- Encourage and create all conditions for enterprises to expand joint ventures and linkages at home and abroad to mobilize capital, transfer technology, exchange management and operating experience.
5. Solutions for education and propaganda
- Expand training links with organizations and countries with developed road systems; domestic and foreign training in new technologies and materials; combine on-the-job training and training at schools and institutes; combine training of enterprises and educational institutions.
- Thoroughly propagate viewpoints and guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State on attracting resources, developing road traffic infrastructure system.
6. Solutions for international cooperation
- Expand international cooperation, especially countries with experience in resource mobilization and road traffic system management. Continue to amend and supplement legal system, institutions and policies to be consistent with regulations of World Trade Organization and other international cooperation organizations to which Vietnam is a member to strengthen the association.
- Closely coordinate between central and local governments in promoting the implementation of road transport infrastructure connection projects between Vietnam and countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and China within the framework of ASEAN and GMS connectivity. Speeding up the implementation of signed road transport agreements; amending the signed agreement to enhance connectivity and convenience for cross-border road transport.
7. Solutions on mobilization and allocation of investment capital
- Focus on calling all resources to invest in transport infrastructure annually reaching 3.5-4.5% of GDP. Prioritize State budget capital to support investment projects in form of public-private partnership as a primer, invest in projects that cannot attract non-budget capital, projects in regions difficult. Continue to attract and effectively use ODA and concessional loans from international donors.
- Priority is given to enterprises investing in road infrastructure to invest in and exploit services related to the project scope and to get loans from long-term credit sources with preferential interest rates.
- To step up investment promotion activities in the form of public-private partnership; provide complete, timely and public information on list of public-private partnership projects on national procurement network; simplify project investment procedure under mode of public-private partnership.
- Effectively exploiting resources from infrastructural assets invested with State budget capital through form of exploitation concession; localities to study and implement a mechanism to collect revenue from land fund exploitation on both sides of roadway for investment and development of road infrastructure.
- Mobilizing and allocating investment capital with focus and focus on dynamic, pervasive and connecting projects between modes, taking into account balance among regions.
8. Solutions on organization of implementation and supervision of the implementation of the plan
- Organize public announcement of road network planning in various forms, creating high consensus among political organizations, businesses, investors and people when implementing.
- Coordinate closely and synchronously in process of implementing the planning between the central and local governments, ensuring that the local plans must comply with orientations of the road network plan; coordinate among ministries and branches to handle inter-sectoral issues, ensuring consistency, synchronization and effectiveness of the road network plan.
- Strengthen inspection and supervision of management and implementation of the plan to ensure that the plan is implemented in accordance with regulations; promote role of people, businesses and socio-political organizations in monitoring the implementation of the plan. Strictly handle cases of violations of law on plan.
IX. Organizing implementation
1. Ministry of Transport
- To assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with ministries, branches and People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities in managing and organizing implementation of road network plan. Periodically evaluate implementation of the plan, review and adjust the plan according to regulations. Announce the plan as prescribed.
- Provide relevant data to update information system and national database on plan.
- Deploy the plan, advise and propose necessary solutions to implement the plan synchronously and effectively.
- Organize elaboration and approval of plans of technical and specialized nature for roads in a period up to 2030.
- Coordinate with Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment to arrange annual budget for implementation of road development plan. To assume prime responsibility for and coordinate with Ministry of Finance in handing over sections of national highways to localities for management.
2. Ministries and branches shall, according to their functions, tasks and powers, coordinate with Ministry of Transport and People's Committees of provinces and cities in allocating resources and proposing mechanisms and policies in order to effectively implement objectives of the plan, ensure consistency and synchronization with implementation of the 10 years socio-economic development strategy for 2021-2030, socio-economic development plans of each sector and locality.
3. People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities
- People's Committees at all levels shall, within the ambit of their tasks and powers, organize performance of State management of road traffic in accordance with relevant laws within their respective localities; strictly manage land fund for plan implementation.
- Review, adjust and develop plans and projects in locality to ensure consistency and synchronization with this plan. Update content of provincial planning to ensure compliance with local traffic development orientations according to this plan.
- Mobilize resources to invest in the provincial road system, giving priority to local roads that are planned to become national highways to ensure minimum scale before handing them over to Ministry of Transport for management.
- To assume prime responsibility for receiving and organizing management of sections of national highways that do not meet the criteria and sections of national highways passing through urban areas where bypass routes have been built.

Source: Vitic/ thuvienphapluat.vn