Changes on the 'fire axis' Highway 9

QTO - "Highway 9" - a road once battered by the flames of war - has now donned a new appearance, becoming a vital transportation artery playing a crucial role on the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC). Beyond just infrastructure changes, this route has witnessed the dramatic transformation of a land once filled with suffering and loss. From tragic memories, a new way of life is emerging, opening up a promising path of development for the locality.

"The Path of Fire" and the Revival

In the memory of Mr. Nguyen Minh Ky, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri province (old), nicknamed "The Gray Tiger of Highway 9," every stretch and curve on Highway 9 is associated with the most brutal years of the war. To control and prevent the supply of the Vietnam People's Army through this route, the US-backed South Vietnamese regime established a dense system of military bases along the route, famous examples being: Carol Hill, Fuller Peak, Khe Sanh base, and Lang Vay…

Mr. Nguyen Minh Ky shared that during the war against the US to save the country, Highway 9 was not only a vital transportation artery but also a target of fierce bombing by the US Air Force, with the highest density of bombs and bullets in the Central battlefield. The heroic victories of that time made the "fire axis" of Highway 9 legendary, and also a terrifying nightmare for US and South Vietnamese soldiers in the years 1965-1972.

In the memory of Mr. Nguyen Minh Ky, every stretch and bend on Highway 9 is associated with the most brutal years of the war - Photo: LT

If Highway 9 was once a battlefield filled with loss and suffering, today, this vital artery has been invested in by the State to become a convenient route for transportation and socio-economic development. In particular, the study and construction of the Lao Bao-Densavan cross-border economic and trade zone is receiving special attention from the leaders of the Vietnamese and Lao Parties and States, as well as the leaders of Quang Tri and Savannakhet provinces, aiming to create thousands of new jobs and facilitate the transition to a digital economy and modern logistics.

According to Mr. Ky, National Highway 9 and the EWEC Corridor are strategic transportation arteries that can help Quang Tri become an important gateway connecting Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar with the East Sea via the Cua Viet-My Thuy port. If this potential is focused on logistics, border trade, energy industry, and tourism, it will help the province become an international goods transshipment center. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize infrastructure investment, especially upgrading National Highway 9; promptly implementing the Cam Lo-Lao Bao expressway project; and developing clear and detailed planning to create focal points for trade, services, and tourism… to take advantage of the strategic position along the EWEC.

Only then will the province have a great opportunity to make breakthroughs with the decisive directions of the Central Government and the implementation of key projects such as the My Thuy deep-water seaport, creating new growth momentum, attracting investment and transforming Quang Tri into a leading logistics center in the region.

Important drive shaft

Beyond its role as a vital transportation artery, Highway 9 is now identified as one of the key driving forces in Quang Tri province's socio-economic development strategy. Building upon the foundation of the East-West Economic Corridor, this route is gradually playing a crucial role in connecting regions and countries, opening up new development opportunities for localities along its length.

From its intersection with National Highway 1 in Nam Dong Ha ward, passing through Cam Lo commune to the Lao Bao International Border Gate, National Highway 9 is not only a route for transporting goods but also a "backbone" promoting trade, services, industry, and urban development. In recent years, along with synchronized investment in infrastructure, the volume of vehicles, especially cargo trucks, along this route has increased significantly, clearly reflecting the emerging economic vitality along this corridor.

As a connecting point between National Highway 9 and the western provinces, Cam Lo, once a logistical transit hub during the war, has undergone a dramatic transformation, shaping the image of a modern and dynamic rural area. With concrete roads extending to every hamlet, and a comprehensively developed system of electricity, water, schools, and health stations, the material and spiritual lives of the people have continuously improved. No longer characterized by fragmented, self-sufficient production, the people of Cam Lo have gradually shifted towards commodity production linked to the market.

Highway 9 has been identified as one of the key driving axes in the province's socio-economic development strategy - Photo: LT

According to statistics, during the period 2020-2025, the local economy's growth rate averaged over 13% per year; per capita income reached over 77 million VND per year; and the poverty rate decreased to approximately 1.18%. These figures not only reflect economic development but also demonstrate the clear effectiveness of the new rural development program.

Chairman of Cam Lo Commune People's Committee, Nguyen Van An, shared that the locality clearly recognizes its advantage of being located on the National Highway 9 - EWEC Corridor. This is both an opportunity to develop trade and services, and a condition to promote economic restructuring. The locality focuses on developing agriculture towards commercial production, while also making good use of cultural and historical values ​​to create additional livelihoods for the people.

Meanwhile, in the West, Lao Bao is emerging as a dynamic growth pole. With the advantage of being a "gateway" to the EWEC Corridor and having an international border crossing, Lao Bao commune has become a crucial node on the East-West Economic Corridor, where goods from Thailand and Laos transit through Vietnam and vice versa. Import-export, transportation, warehousing, and trade-service activities are developing strongly, contributing to job creation and increased income for the people.

According to Le Ba Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Lao Bao Commune People's Committee: "The locality is focusing on developing service and logistics industries associated with the border gate, while improving the investment environment to attract businesses. The goal is to make Lao Bao a trade and service center of the border region."

Not only Cam Lo and Lao Bao communes, but also other localities such as Nam Dong Ha ward, Huong Hiep commune, Khe Sanh... are gradually taking advantage of Highway 9 to develop their economy, shift their production structure, and improve the lives of their people. The spread of this transportation axis is creating a chain of interconnected development.

With the aim of developing Highway 9 into a crucial logistics artery connecting seaports with international border gates, Quang Tri is gradually realizing its goal of transforming its geographical advantages into a growth driver. As infrastructure continues to be invested in comprehensively, along with appropriate mechanisms and policies, National Highway 9 will not only be a transportation route but also a strategic economic development corridor, contributing to Quang Tri's deeper integration into regional and international value chains.

Le Truong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202605/doi-thay-tren-truc-lua-duong-9-8546439/