A series of transport projects to be completed in 2026

Expanded across the fields of aviation, road and rail, these projects not only have infrastructure significance but also create an important foundation for socio-economic development and regional linkages in the coming period.

For the first time, Vietnam has completed and approved the National Master Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, playing the role of "commander" for long-term socio-economic development space.

In the road sector, the period of 2021 - 2025 recorded a strong development step when the whole country completed and opened 2,025km of expressway, nearly double the total number of kilometers of expressway in the previous 20 years. In particular, the entire North-South expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau has been technically opened to traffic. In 2025 alone, 1,491km of highways, 456km of national highways and 251km of coastal roads will be completed, creating a foundation for many projects to continue to reach the finish line in 2026.

In the capital area, the Ring Road 4 project in the Hanoi Capital Region is a key project with a length of 112.8km, passing through Hanoi, Hung Yen and Bac Ninh, with a total investment of more than VND 85,800 billion. According to the National Assembly's resolution, the project is basically expected to be completed in 2026. To date, the section through Hanoi has completed the construction of 13/13 resettlement areas, completed land acquisition, and site clearance. Regarding construction, about 35/53km of asphalt concrete parallel road have been completed, reaching about 85% of the output value, striving to complete the entire project in the second quarter of 2026.

In the South, the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project has a total length of 76.3km, passing through Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Long An. The project is expected to open to traffic and put the entire route into operation on June 30, 2026, in which some sections of overpasses and parallel roads can be technically opened to traffic earlier.

The Can Tho - Ca Mau Expressway project is over 110km long, with nearly 26km of connecting routes, with a total investment of over VND 27,500 billion. After adjusting the progress, My Thuan Project Management Board said that the project will be completed and put into operation in January 2026, helping Ca Mau connect smoothly with Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City and the whole region.

The 48km long Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Component 3 project has completed 100% of the main route, expected to be accepted and handed over before February 14, 2026. Along with that, the 39km Ho Chi Minh route, the eastern bypass of Buon Ma Thuot city, has been officially put into operation, connecting important national highways and connecting with the expressway, contributing to reducing congestion and ensuring traffic safety.

In the railway sector, many urban railway lines have been put into operation, including Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien, Cat Linh - Ha Dong and the elevated section of Nhon - Hanoi Railway Station. At the same time, the procedures to start the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line, line 5 of the Hanoi urban railway and the Phu Quoc urban metro line are being urgently completed, aiming to continue striving to start the North - South high-speed railway in 2026.

One of the most anticipated projects is Long Thanh International Airport Phase 1. This is an important national project with a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of goods per year when completed.

Phase 1 is invested in building a passenger terminal with a capacity of 25 million passengers/year, meeting the 4F standard - the highest level of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The project started in early 2021, and by December 19, 2025, the items had been inaugurated and the first flight was welcome to land. According to the plan, in the first half of 2026, Long Thanh airport phase 1 will be put into commercial operation.

With a series of large projects simultaneously completed and put into operation, 2026 is expected to become an important milestone, creating a boost for the transport infrastructure system and opening up new development space for many regions and localities across the country.

Read the original here