On the afternoon of April 21, continuing his working trip to Can Tho city, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a working session with ministries, branches and localities on the implementation of key transport projects in the South. Also attending was Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the Mekong Delta is very rich, has great potential, and is rich in revolutionary traditions. However, there are still two major bottlenecks in transportation and human resources that the Party and State are very interested in and promoting, and the Government is very determined to direct them to solve.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway project, the final section of the North - South expressway in the East, has basically resolved the difficulties and problems; the inauguration must be by December 19, 2025 at the latest.
Along with that, the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway project and a number of important projects are also being implemented synchronously and drastically; thereby completing the goal of having 600 km of expressway in the Mekong Delta by the end of 2025.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the major requirements for projects are to be on time and ahead of schedule; ensure and improve quality; not increase capital or price. At the same time, no corruption or negativity will occur, ensuring environmental hygiene and restoration.
Along with that, implement projects to expand and upgrade Ca Mau, Phu Quoc, Rach Gia airports; seaports such as Cai Cui, Tran De, Hon Khoai; inland waterway ports to exploit the river system; railway line from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho City.
"If we can solve 5 transportation methods (road, air, sea, river, rail) then the Mekong Delta will escape poverty. Therefore, we must be determined to do it, each generation must do a little to complete it," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha informed that according to the road network planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister, by 2030, the whole country will have 5,000km of expressway.
In 2025, it is expected to complete 206km, including 2 component projects of Can Tho - Ca Mau Expressway; component project 1 Cao Lanh - An Huu. By 2027, an additional 226km will be completed. Thus, by 2027, the total number of kilometers of expressways will increase to 553km.
Regarding airports, the Mekong Delta region has 4 airports. In particular, Can Tho International Airport plans to have an operating capacity of 7 million passengers/year by 2030; Ca Mau airport by 2030 is 1 million passengers/year; Rach Gia airport by 2030 is 0.5 million passengers/year and Phu Quoc International Airport by 2030 is 10 million passengers/year.
According to the railway network planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Mekong Delta region has a Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway line, with a length of 174 km. Phase 1 has an investment of about 7.16 billion USD; phase 2 is about 2.7 billion USD.
Currently, the Ministry of Construction has established an internal appraisal council for the pre-feasibility study report and approved the mid-term report. It is expected to be completed and submitted to the Prime Minister and the State Appraisal Council in September 2025.
For waterways, according to the planning, the Mekong Delta region has 12 seaports. In particular, Soc Trang seaport has the potential to develop an offshore wharf area at Tran De gate to take on the role of a regional gateway port. The seaports in the Mekong Delta are planned with full scale and functions for containers, general goods, liquid/ air cargo, and bulk cargo with the largest ships with a capacity of up to 160,000 tons.
