Proposal to build an expressway 'up the mountains and down to the sea' connecting the South Central Coast

Photo caption — Gia Nghia - Bao Loc - Phan Thiet Expressway project with a total length of more than 140 km, 4 lanes, design speed of 100 - 120 km/h.

According to the proposal, the project has a total investment of about 36,340 billion VND, with a length of more than 140 km, a scale of 4 lanes, a design speed of 100 - 120 km/h, connecting key tourism and economic centers of the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands. The route is oriented to become the first scenic highway in Vietnam, connecting tourism from the sea to the plateau.

Through research and analysis of economic and technical factors, the consortium of investors proposing the project believes that the economy of the Central Highlands region still faces many difficulties and the ability to recover capital is low, so it is proposed to implement the plan in which the investor mobilizes 30% (equivalent to more than 10,900 billion VND), and the state budget supports 70% (equivalent to more than 25,400 billion VND).

The Trung Nam Group - Indel Corp - Trung Nam E&C joint venture commits to allocate resources and select a leading consulting unit to prepare a pre-feasibility and feasibility study report, and submit it to the competent authority for review and approval according to regulations.

The consortium of investors proposing the project also proposed the Prime Minister to add the Gia Nghia - Bao Loc - Phan Thiet expressway to the National Expressway Network Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, and allow investment implementation in the period 2026 - 2030. The Gia Nghia - Bao Loc - Phan Thiet expressway has a starting point connecting the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway, has a branch into the center of Phan Thiet city, and the end point intersects with the Buon Ma Thuot - Gia Nghia expressway (according to the plan), connecting the center of Gia Nghia via National Highway 14.

When completed, the route will significantly shorten travel time between the coastal and highland areas, reduce traffic pressure on National Highway 20 and National Highway 28, and enhance connectivity with existing major highways such as Dau Giay - Lien Khuong and Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet. The highlight of the project lies not only in its role as a transport infrastructure but also in its orientation towards developing into a "landscape highway" - a model being applied by many countries to combine transport with tourism , landscape and ecological services.

Accordingly, scenic stops, service centers, and connecting routes to tourist areas and eco-urban areas can be formed along the highway. This interconnected experience space will create new attractions for tourism in Binh Thuan, Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces - localities with rich natural resources but not yet connected by synchronous infrastructure.

Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee said that the locality has agreed on the policy of implementing the project under the form of public-private partnership (PPP) to take advantage of socialized resources and reduce budget pressure. Previously, on June 9, 2025, the province worked with the leaders of the Ministry of Construction and agreed on the policy of adding the project to the National Road Infrastructure Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. On October 14, 2025, the province continued to meet to add the project to the Provincial Planning, and at the same time prepare a plan to arrange capital and land funds for early implementation when approved by the Government.

Currently, the Government is considering the project for implementation in the period 2026 - 2030. With the orientation of developing landscape highways and inter-regional tourism corridors, the Gia Nghia - Bao Loc - Phan Thiet route is expected to become one of the new connecting symbols of the South Central Coast and Central Highlands in the next decade.

According to VNA

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/de-xuat-xay-dung-tuyen-cao-toc-len-rung-xuong-bien-ket-noi-vung-nam-trung-bo-tay-nguyen-524608.html