PM inspects expressway projects in Mekong Delta, urges faster progress
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 21 inspected the construction progress of two major expressway projects in the Mekong Delta, namely Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang and Cao Lanh – An Huu.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (front row, 1st from right) the Cao Lanh – An Huu expressway in Dong Thap province (Photo: VNA)
Dong Thap (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 21 inspected the construction progress of two major expressway projects in the Mekong Delta, namely Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang and Cao Lanh – An Huu, and removed obstacles facing them.
The Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway, spanning 188.2 km, runs through four provinces and is being developed in phases as a four-lane route. Groundbreaking took place on June 17, 2023, with substantial completion targeted for 2026 and full operation expected by 2027. The expressway consists of four independent sub-projects, each managed by the respective provincial authority.
During his field visit, PM Chinh examined Package No. 42 of Sub-project 1 under Phase 1, which runs through An Giang province. Contractors reported that the over 16.92km package is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2026.
The leader praised An Giang for its determination in site clearance and noted that construction materials are now available. He urged the acceleration of progress, targeting the technical opening of the section by December 19, 2025, stressing that doing so would help reduce the Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR), open up new development space, and enhance land value.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with engineers and workers constructing Phase 1 of the Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway project. (Photo: VNA)
Meanwhile, the first phase of the Cao Lanh – An Huu expressway spans 27.43km and consists of two sub-projects with a total investment of more than 7.49 trillion VND (286.37 million USD) sourced from the state budget. Sub-project 1, 16km long, is managed by the People’s Committee of Dong Thap province and began construction in June 2023, with completion targeted for 2026. Sub-project 2, over 11km long, under the management of the former Tien Giang provincial authority, started on August 12, 2024, and set to be completed in 2027.
At the site, PM Chinh instructed authorities to shorten the construction schedule, aiming to open Sub-project 1 by December 19 this year, and Sub-project 2 by April 30, 2026. He also directed that the full four-lane expressway be completed immediately, rather than a limited-width version as initially planned.
To ensure funding for the ahead-of-schedule workload, the Government leader tasked the Ministry of Finance with expediting procedures to submit for approval to allocate resources for the project. He also requested that provinces with stone quarries (such as An Giang) adjust extraction volumes to prioritise supply for the project, while urging contractors to mobilise more labour and e🌸quipment./.
Nearly 30 km of the Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway will be put into operation from April 28, 2025, helping ease congestion on National Highways 1, 51, and the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway.
According to the Vietnam Expressway Services Engineering Joint Stock Company (VECE), which operates the 55-km expressway, repairs began on July 15 and include replacement of expansion joints on the Long Thanh Bridge and maintenance of the expressway’s ITS.
The expressway, spanning over 110 km, connects Can Tho city with Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau provinces, complemented by 25.85 km of connecting routes.
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At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
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The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
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The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
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President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
