Emphasizing the significance of the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh Expressway, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that this project holds special importance, not only as a driving force for the development of the Southeast region, but also as a crucial link to the Central Highlands. Additionally, once the Chon Thanh (Binh Phuoc province) - Gia Nghia (Dak Nong province) expressway is completed, it will enhance regional connectivity, boost socio-economic development while ensuring national defense and security for the region and the entire country.
Accelerating regional connectivity
As part of the celebrations for the Party and the Lunar New Year, on February 1, Binh Duong provincial People's Committee held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the HCMC- Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh Expressway segment passing through Binh Duong province in Tan Uyen city’s Tan Hiep ward. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; former State President Nguyen Minh Triet; Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha; Nguyen Van Loi, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of provincial Party Committee and Head of provincial National Assembly Deputy Delegation; leaders of several ministries and central agencies; provincial leaders, former provincial leaders over periods; as well as leaders from HCMC and the provinces of Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai.
The HCMC - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh Expressway project is approximately 52 km long. In the first phase, the expressway will be developed with four lanes, a continuous emergency lane throughout the route, a road width of 25.5 meters and a designed speed of 100 km/h, with total investment of about VND 17.4 trillion. The second phase will expand the entire route to six lanes, maintaining the 100 km/h design speed and increasing the road width to 33 meters. The project is divided into two components: Component 1 involves land clearance for the section passing through Binh Duong province, covering approximately 398 hectares, funded by both central and local budgets. Component 2 focuses on the construction of the expressway segment through Binh Duong province under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, specifically the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) method, with completion targeted by 2027. Once completed, the expressway will connect Ho Chi Minh City's Belt Road 3 to Chon Thanh town in Binh Phuoc province, contributing to the national goal of developing 5,000 km of expressways set by the Party and Government for the 2021-2030 period.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vo Van Minh, Vice Secretary of provincial Party Committee and Chairman of provincial People's Committee emphasized that the groundbreaking of this project marks a significant milestone in the province’s socio-economic development. It serves as proof of the province’s sustainable growth and the strong cooperation between the government, businesses and investors. "2025 will be a time for acceleration, breakthroughs, reaching the finish line of the 2020-2025 term of provincial Party Committee while also marking the beginning of the 2025-2030 term. Binh Duong is committed to continuing bold innovations in administration, streamlining administrative procedures, enhancing public services, improving the business and investment environment and strengthening connections and collaboration between the government, citizens, businesses and investors. Together with the nation, we will step into a new era—an era of national growth and progress”, Mr. Minh stated.
Opening up new development opportunities
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State’s leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the construction of the HCMC - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh Expressway will enhance connectivity within the Southeastern region, drive local economic growth and open up new development opportunities. Additionally, upon completion of the Chon Thanh - Gia Nghia Expressway, the project will further integrate the Central Highlands, strengthen regional linkages, boost socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security across the region and the country.
The Prime Minister directed Binh Duong province to review procedures to ensure transparency, prevent corruption and misconduct, and reassess the project timeline, aiming for completion by September 2, 2026—earlier than the originally planned 2027 deadline. He stressed the importance of maintaining high standards in quality, engineering, aesthetics, safety and environmental protection. Additionally, he called for thorough resettlement planning, ensuring that affected residents receive new houses that are equal to or better than their previous ones. He also urged HCMC to expedite the construction of the 3 km section within its jurisdiction while instructing Binh Phuoc province to accelerate the implementation of the remaining 7 km stretch. He emphasized a proactive approach, urging local authorities to take the initiative rather than waiting for support, with the goal of completing the entire route by 2025 in alignment with Binh Duong’s progress.
To enhance connectivity between the Southeastern region and the Central Highlands, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed that all necessary procedures for the Chon Thanh - Gia Nghia Expressway must be completed within the first quarter of 2025, ensuring that groundbreaking takes place before April 30, 2025. He also called for accelerated progress on key regional connectivity projects, including the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, HCMC’s Belt Roads 3, 4 and urged HCMC and Tay Ninh province to expedite preparations for the HCMC - Moc Bai Expressway. Additionally, he emphasized the need to study and implement a metro line extending from Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien in HCMC to Binh Duong.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Binh Duong must continue to taking the lead in implementing the Politburo’s Resolution 24 on the development of the Southeastern region. The province should lead in regional planning, attract high-quality investment projects and develop infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity. He urged Binh Duong to move forward with the entire nation into a new era—one of prosperity, civilization and strength—where people enjoy greater happiness and well-being.
Social Housing contributes to sustainable development
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh witnessed Binh Duong province granting investment licenses for seven social housing projects, totaling nearly VND 8.5 trillion and comprising 9,200 apartments. These projects will provide houses for workers and low-income residents, contributing to the local social welfare. He praised Binh Duong’s efforts in developing social housing projects, emphasizing that these projects are in line with the Party and State’s policy of fostering rapid and sustainable development. The Prime Minister urged ministries, sectors and localities to focus on social housing development by innovating implementation methods, cutting red tape, eliminating bureaucratic barriers and expediting preparations. He stressed the importance of decentralization to accelerate a national program for building one million social housing units.
He also encouraged other provinces to learn from Binh Duong’s social housing model and emphasized that such projects must be equipped with essential infrastructure, including schools and healthcare facilities... The allocation of land for the development of social housing projects, reserving specific locations for such projects, is a new approach that embodies a humanitarian spirit, similar to that of the commercial housing ones.
Reported by Minh Duy-Translated by Kim Tin
