On December 19, a number of large-scale transport and infrastructure projects across the Mekong Delta were simultaneously launched, inaugurated or opened to technical traffic, providing a strong boost to intra-regional and inter-regional connectivity and expanding development space for the region.
The activities were part of a nationwide program marking the groundbreaking, inauguration and technical opening of 234 key projects in 34 provinces and cities, organized simultaneously to celebrate major national political events.
In Can Tho City, the main section of the Can Tho–Hau Giang expressway, part of the eastern North–South expressway, was officially inaugurated, while the Hau Giang–Ca Mau section was opened to technical traffic. With a total length of more than 110 km and an investment of over VND 27.5 trillion, the project is expected to significantly shorten travel time, reduce logistics costs—especially for agricultural and aquatic products—and strengthen connectivity between Can Tho, the region’s hub, and the southernmost provinces.
In Phu Quoc Special Zone (An Giang Province), construction began on Phase 1 of the light rail transit (LRT) line, with a total investment of nearly VND 9 trillion under a BOT model. The nearly 18-km line will link Phu Quoc International Airport with the APEC 2027 Convention Center, aiming to develop a modern and environmentally friendly public transport system for the island. On the same day, the Duong Dong 2 reservoir project and two resettlement areas—Ham Ninh and Cua Can—were also launched to support urban development and tourism.
Also on December 19, An Giang Province opened to technical traffic the section of the Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang expressway passing through the province. The expressway is a key east–west corridor in the Mekong Delta, connecting the southwestern border area with seaports and major economic centers.
In Dong Thap Province, construction started on the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City–Trung Luong–My Thuan expressway under a public–private partnership (PPP) scheme, with a total investment of more than VND 36 trillion. The project will expand the expressway to six to twelve lanes, helping to ease congestion at the western gateway of Ho Chi Minh City and enhance transport capacity for the southern key economic region.
Meanwhile, Ca Mau Province launched two ring road projects with a combined investment of over VND 1.7 trillion to improve its urban transport network and create new development space. In Vinh Long Province, construction began on the Dinh Khao Bridge under a PPP model, replacing the existing ferry service and improving inter-provincial connectivity across the Mekong Delta.
The simultaneous rollout of major infrastructure projects is expected to create new growth momentum for the Mekong Delta, address long-standing transport bottlenecks, and promote sustainable socio-economic development while enhancing the region’s overall competitiveness in the years ahead.