Work will begin next month on the $547.15m (VND9.76tn) highway to connect Ho Chi Minh City with southern province of Dong Nai in Vietnam.

The highway, which is expected to be finished by 2012, will stretch 55km and will have 18 overpasses.

Once finished, the highway will facilitate trade among three major economic hubs in the country’s south including Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau and Dong Nai.

The project is part of the country’s North-South highway.