The road connection between the two countries currently takes place through the Moc Bai (Vietnam) and Bavet (Cambodia) international border gates. On the Vietnamese side, it's National Highway 22, and on the Cambodian side, it's National Highway 1. The two countries have also developed plans for connecting via two expressways : Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai and Phnom Penh - Bavet.
The Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai (Vietnam) expressway project is nearly 51 km long. It starts at the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 and ends connecting to National Highway 22 (approximately 5 km from the Moc Bai border gate). The project was approved for investment under the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) and BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) contract model, with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee as the competent authority for implementation.
Perspective view of the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai expressway.
PHOTO: Ministry of Construction
The Phnom Penh - Bavet (Cambodia) expressway project is approximately 135 km long. The project is being invested in under the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model and commenced construction in June 2023. The final section of the expressway on the Cambodian side, about 15 km from the border, is awaiting agreement on the connection point with Vietnam.
Previously, in 2017, the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction ) and the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport signed a Memorandum of Understanding acknowledging the results of the Cambodian side's research (funded by JICA). This included a plan for a connection point between the two expressways near milestone 164. It also stipulated that the connection point and future development plan would be considered and decided by the governments of both countries.
Based on field surveys and a comparative assessment of the advantages and disadvantages between the connection options at milestone 170 and milestone 164, the People's Committee of Tay Ninh province proposes a phased connection plan in two stages.
In the immediate future, connections will be made through the existing Moc Bai - Bavet international border gate pair, in order to effectively utilize the Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai expressway currently under construction.
At the same time, we will make the most of the existing infrastructure of the Moc Bai border gate to ensure stable international transportation and trade in the immediate future.
In the next phase, regarding the connection plan at milestone 170 along the customs clearance route of the Moc Bai - Bavet border gate pair, the Ministry of Construction found this plan to have a basis in terms of planning and infrastructure, and to be supported in principle by ministries and localities.
The Ministry of Construction has proposed that the Prime Minister consider approving the plan to connect the two expressways according to the aforementioned two-phase schedule. At the same time, it has directed relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to continue completing the technical, legal, and external relations documentation to implement the next steps in accordance with regulations.
According to the Ministry of Construction, implementation needs to follow a suitable roadmap, based on completing the legal framework for customs clearance, reaching consensus with the Cambodian side, and being considered and decided by the competent authorities. The option of connecting at border marker 164 is not being considered at this stage.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghien-cuu-ket-noi-cao-toc-tphcm-moc-bai-voi-phnom-penh-bavet-185260212113000553.htm
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