Find the right route for the highway rest stop.

The size of a rest stop depends on the characteristics of the region.

Today (July 19th), as part of a field survey and experience exchange program on investing in and constructing rest stop systems, the Vietnam Association of Road Transport Infrastructure Investors (Varsi), in collaboration with Deo Ca Group and Bureau 16 under the China Railway Construction Corporation, organized a seminar on "Construction of Highway Rest Stops in Vietnam: A Look at China's Experience."

Overview of the conference.

The workshop was also attended by representatives from several departments and divisions of the Ministry of Transport , as well as a number of training institutions and Vietnamese transport businesses.

Here, the parties discussed and exchanged views on regulations, investment practices, construction, and operational management of rest stops in Vietnam and China, and subsequently researched and proposed improvements to the implementation of these rest stops.

Mr. Le Quynh Mai, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deo Ca Group.

Mr. Le Quynh Mai, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deo Ca Group, said that the system of legal documents and the legal framework for investment in transportation infrastructure in general, and investment in rest stops in particular, has been and is being reviewed and further improved by competent authorities in Vietnam.

Specifically for the North-South Expressway Eastern section, the plan for the network of rest stops, approved by the Ministry of Transport in 2023, includes 36 stations.

To date, 6 stations are operational, 3 are under construction, and 27 are receiving further investment.

Recognizing that rest stops are road safety infrastructure projects that must be implemented simultaneously with highways for synchronized operation, the leaders of Deo Ca Group proposed detailed regulations on the principles for planning the rest stop system, orienting the design of rest stops according to the principles of environmental harmony, sustainability, creativity, and flexibility, aiming towards smart rest stops operated using information technology.

"State management agencies also need to issue appropriate mechanisms and create reserve land for the future expansion of rest stops," Mr. Mai said.

In discussions with Chinese investors regarding rest stops, Mr. Le Quoc Dung, Acting Director of Project Management Board 7 (Ministry of Transport), stated that the investment in rest stops on expressways in Vietnam has only just begun and the Ministry of Transport is urgently directing efforts to accelerate implementation to meet the needs of the people.

"For that reason, we are very open to learning and listening to the experiences shared by businesses in advanced countries."

"In China, I am particularly impressed with the scale, implementation, and operation of the Yangcheng Lake rest stop. Regarding the construction of rest stops in general, does China have regulations on maximum/minimum area?" Mr. Dung questioned.

Following up on the remarks from the leaders of Project Management Board 7, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Deputy Head of the Planning and Investment Department (Vietnam Road Administration), continued to raise the question of whether the proposal for the location and planning of the rest stops should be made before or after the construction of the expressway system.

Mr. Tham Kien Cuong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Khai Thong Company.

Responding to the question raised by the leaders of Project Management Board 7, Mr. Shen Jianqiang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jiaxing Kaitong Investment Co., Ltd. (the investor of Huyangcheng Rest Stop - one of the most modern rest stops in China today), said that previously, regulations on the construction of rest stops in China had many similarities with those in Vietnam. The area for each side was stipulated at 8,000 square meters. However, to meet practical needs, the regulations on area have been changed significantly.

"Currently, China has 186,000 km of expressways. That's the result of 30 years of development. Investment in rest stops has also corresponded to that time."

Previously, the Ministry of Transport stipulated the locations of small-scale rest stops. After reassessing traffic volume, the previously small-scale rest stops had to be re-planned on a larger scale.

Generally, the scale depends on the characteristics of the region (commercial or tourism ) and the traffic volume on the highway.

"Planning for rest stops also requires attention to two major issues to ensure specific planning. These are gateways to a city or locality. Simultaneously, they are an important piece in the tourism industry," said Mr. Tham Kien Cuong, adding that it is necessary to promptly supplement the missing rest stops on Vietnam's expressways, meeting standards in terms of scale, function, and operational organization.

Given the current traffic volume on Vietnam's expressways, the planned area for rest stops needs to be expanded instead of remaining at the maximum of 5 hectares.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deo Ca Group, Ho Minh Hoang, presents a commemorative gift to the leaders of Khai Hung Company.

How are rest stops in China being invested in?

Previously, the Vietnam Association of Road Transport Infrastructure Investors, along with representatives from departments and divisions under the Ministry of Transport and enterprises such as Deo Ca Group, Phuong Trang Passenger Transport Joint Stock Company, 559 Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company, and Trung Thanh Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company, conducted a field survey at the Ho Duong Truong rest stop.

The Yangcheng Lake rest stop on the highway in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, was the first destination the delegation visited.

Leaders of Deo Ca Group, along with representatives from transportation businesses and departments under the Ministry of Transport, visited the Duong Truong Lake rest stop.

Inaugurated in 2019, this rest stop is known as one of the most modern in China, with a total area of ​​50 hectares.

In addition to its spacious and convenient parking area for vehicles, with a grand hall spanning 36,000 square meters, the Ho Duong Truong rest stop also offers passengers enjoyable experiences with food stalls, specialty shops, convenience stores, and more along the 8-meter-wide, 160-meter-long artificial river. Outside, there is a pleasant and airy scenic area.

This was also one of the first rest stops in China to have a booth for exhibiting and selling cars.

According to calculations, the average expenditure per passenger for lunch at this rest stop is approximately 65 yuan/person.

To ensure uniformity in operation and investment efficiency at the rest stop, the business of services at the stalls is also carried out directly by the rest stop investor, not through a lease arrangement.

Thanks to its diverse amenities and services, Ho Duong Truong station attracts a large number of tourists and drivers, especially during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), playing an important role in promoting local products and contributing to the economic development of the region.

Panoramic view of the Duong Truong Lake rest stop.

According to Mr. Shen Jianqiang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kai Tong, since entering the highway rest stop business in 1998, the company currently operates 8 pairs of rest stops along 25 highways spanning 40 provinces and cities in China, and is continuing to invest in many other rest stop projects.

"By investing in modern rest stops, Khai Thong Company aims for several major goals such as: creating a new playground that brings together many domestic and international brands, a place to promote and introduce the unique local culture to tourists; transforming rest stops into places for experiencing various forms of commerce, both in terms of product sales and services, and providing scenic experiences for passengers."

Khải Thông is also investing in integrating both online and offline services at the rest stop, allowing customers to browse displayed products and scan QR codes to place online orders.

All of these goals aim to provide passengers with a feeling of closeness, friendliness, and comfort.

"To do better in that regard, our company has been actively applying digital technology to management, collecting age data of customers visiting our rest stops, thereby providing a basis for analysis and adjusting business models and customer experiences accordingly," shared the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Khai Thong Company.

With over 25 years of experience developing highway rest stop services and witnessing the past and present state of the rest stop system, we are eager to have the opportunity to visit Vietnam to share our experiences and explore suitable cooperation methods.

Mr. Tham Kien Cuong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gia Hung Khai Thong Investment Co., Ltd.

Thanking the Chairman of Khai Thong Company for taking the time to introduce the activities at the Ho Duong Truong rest stop and the planned future rest stop projects, Mr. Ho Minh Hoang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deo Ca Group, affirmed that this is not only valuable experience for transportation infrastructure investors but also for state management agencies under the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam.

"From the investment experience at the Ho Duong Truong rest stop, we can see that the planning of the electric vehicle charging station here was carried out after the rest stop construction was completed."

Based on that experience, to meet future needs in Vietnam, we need to consider proposing that state management agencies soon study the planning of a charging station system in rest areas. At the same time, it is necessary to develop regulations on the application of technology and the linking and dissemination of information about rest areas on expressways through the information systems of transport vehicles…,” said the leader of Deo Ca Group.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tim-huong-di-phu-hop-cho-tram-dung-nghi-cao-toc-192240719163630025.htm