Traffic bottlenecks arise when the new Lam Dong province is formed.

Transportation is not merely a technical issue; it is the lifeblood of the economy, determining the all-round development of a region. The formation of a "super province" through the merger of Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan provinces will open up unprecedented development opportunities, but at the same time, it also poses significant challenges, especially in terms of transportation infrastructure.

National Highway 28B, connecting Lam Dong and Binh Thuan provinces, is being expanded and upgraded, but it remains a winding road with many narrow sections.

Currently, designating Da Lat as the administrative center of the new Lam Dong province presents a complex challenge: how to effectively connect the various areas within the new province to this center? The distance from Da Lat to localities such as Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) or Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan) may seem relatively short on maps, only about 160-170 km, but in reality, travel is a real challenge, not only in terms of time but also due to the difficulties caused by limited transportation infrastructure.

• DIFFICULTIES ON DETERIORATED ROADS

As evidence of the difficulties in transportation, we can look at the stories of drivers on the routes connecting Dak Nong and Lam Dong. Although there are four main routes, including National Highway (NH) 28 through Di Linh, the road to Dong Nai 4 Hydropower Plant (planned as NH 55), Provincial Road 4B through Lam Ha, and the road for operating Dong Nai 5 Hydropower Plant, all are narrow, winding, and fraught with risks.

Mr. Tran Van Son, a contract driver residing in Ward 3, Da Lat City, shared: "The current roads from Da Lat to Binh Thuan and especially to Dak Nong are very bad, making travel very difficult." He added that if there were a highway or railway, travel time would be significantly shortened, and people would have more choices and more convenience. Mr. Son's sentiments are not only the concerns of one driver but also the hopes and dreams of many people and businesses struggling day and night on these roads.

The connectivity between Lam Dong and Binh Thuan is also not very promising. National Highway 28 and National Highway 28B are the two main arteries, but they are also narrow, winding, and severely degraded roads. National Highway 28B is being upgraded and widened, but its inherent nature as a treacherous mountain pass remains. Even with the widening, the road still poses many potential dangers. In addition, residents of Duc Linh and Tanh Linh who want to go to Da Lat can also take National Highway 55 to access National Highway 20 at Bao Loc, but this is also a narrow and degraded road.

The dream of wide, modern roads is perhaps a shared aspiration not only of the more than 3.87 million residents of the newly established Lam Dong province but also of the entire nation, as it will directly "shorten" distances and "extend" opportunities. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a hotel owner in Da Lat City, expressed her hope: "If there were wide, beautiful roads so that passenger buses and large trucks could travel directly from all areas of the newly established Lam Dong province, allowing people to go south, north, to the coast, and especially to the administrative center located in Da Lat, it would facilitate all aspects of people's lives; reduce costs in all aspects, and also bridge the gap between regions, especially the remote areas of a province that is expected to have the largest area in the country."

• BOLD PROPOSALS TO ELEVATE THE STRATEGY

Building a transportation system not only serves travel needs but also acts as a springboard for socio -economic development. Recognizing the challenges facing transportation, the provinces of Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan have proactively proposed numerous solutions, demonstrating strategic vision and responsibility. These proposals aim to build a synchronized, modern, inter-regional transportation system befitting the status of the country's largest provinces, and have been unanimously submitted by the three provinces to central ministries and agencies.

Specifically, the three provinces have unanimously proposed to the Government to adjust the planning and upgrade the Gia Nghia - Dak Som - Di Linh section to a Class III mountain road. This is an important step to improve intra-regional and inter-regional connectivity, especially between Dak Nong and Lam Dong. The proposal is to build a Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) - Bao Lam (Lam Dong) arterial road to create a backbone connecting the Southern Central Highlands with the South Central and Southeast regions, opening up entirely new opportunities for trade, tourism, and economic development. It is also proposed to add a highway connecting Dak Nong - Lam Dong - Binh Thuan to the planning to shorten travel time, reduce logistics costs, and create a strong impetus for development.

With a longer-term vision, the three provinces also agreed to propose adjustments and additions to the planning of the railway line connecting Dak Nong - Lam Dong - Binh Thuan. The proposed railway line connecting with the Central Highlands railway and the North-South railway is expected to open up an efficient multimodal transport corridor, especially for transporting large volumes of goods and developing tourism.

“The merger of the three provinces of Lam Dong, Dak Nong, and Binh Thuan is a historic opportunity, a major turning point to create a dynamic region with rich economic potential. However, for the “super province” of Lam Dong to truly thrive, it needs a strong and decisive boost from the central government, which is improving transportation infrastructure. We, the people, eagerly await the involvement not only of local leaders but also attention from the central government. It is necessary to quickly approve planning and allocate appropriate funding for localities still facing infrastructure difficulties,” expressed Mr. Nguyen Duy Lang, a retired official.

Transportation infrastructure is not just roads and bridges. It is the flow of the economy, the heartbeat of life, and the foundation for connectivity and development. People hope that the "super province" of Lam Dong will not only become a dynamic economic center and an attractive tourist destination, but also receive the attention it needs to quickly become a relatively developed province in the country, a truly livable place.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kinh-te/202505/nut-that-giao-thong-khi-hinh-thanh-tinh-lam-dong-moi-26753ca/