Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway
Construction starts on $485m Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway in Vietnam. Credit: V Malik.

A joint venture (JV) of construction firms of Sun Group has started construction on VND11tn ($485m) Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway in Vietnam.

The People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province awarded the contract to the JV, which includes Long Van Infrastructure Investment and Development Company, Van Don Sun JSC and Cong Thanh Transportation and Construction.

To be constructed under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) and public-private partnership (PPP) contract, the expressway will reduce travel time from Van Don to Mong Cai from two hours to less than one hour.

The 80.2km-long highway will feature four lanes and connect the districts of Van Don, Tien Yen, Dam Ha and Hai Ha and Mong Cai city. Vehicles will be allowed to run at a maximum speed of 100km/h.

“The Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway is also expected to give access to Van Don International Airport, which is scheduled to be opened by December.”

Additionally, the project will connect with the Ha Long-Hai Phong and Ha Long-Van Don highways to become the longest highway in Vietnam.

Furthermore, the road will serve as an important transport gateway to connect Vietnam, China and countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), strengthening cross-border trade, as well as establishing Quang Ninh as a trade and service hub.

The Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway is also expected to give access to Van Don International Airport, which is scheduled to be opened by December.

Construction of the road is expected to be completed within 22 months.

To recoup the investment, the expressway operator will collect toll on the expressway over a period of 20 years.