Central Thanh Hoa Province has approved the investment policy for a new 42-km road connecting the eastern North–South Expressway with the Ho Chi Minh Road, many sections of which will be upgraded as parts of the western North–South Expressway, aiming to strengthen regional connectivity and support socio-economic development in the northern part of the province.

The new route, with an investment estimated at VND3.5 trillion ($132.5 million, will begin at the Ha Linh interchange on the North–South Expressway and extend to the Ho Chi Minh Road, thus contributing to the gradual completion of the province's transport infrastructure network under its 2021–2030 master plan, with a vision to 2050.

Under the approved plan, the project will include 15 interchanges with existing national and provincial roads, as well as eight bridges.

Once operational, the road is expected to establish the shortest transport connection between northeastern Laos, via Thanh Hoa's Na Meo International Border Gate, and Vietnam's north–south transport network, including the North–South railway, Ho Chi Minh Road, eastern North–South Expressway, National Highway 1 and Nghi Son deep-water port.