Accelerating connecting traffic
The connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong is witnessing strong investment. Notably, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, 76km long, passes through Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An. It is expected that the elevated section from the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway intersection to the Tan Van intersection will be technically open to traffic by the end of 2025, and the entire route will be completed in 2026.
At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 with a length of 207km is about to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval of the investment policy. The 47.95km section through Binh Duong is expected to start construction this year. National Highway 13 - the main route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong is also being comprehensively upgraded. The section through Binh Duong is being expanded to 8 lanes, while the section through Ho Chi Minh City is about to be expanded to 10 lanes, with a total investment of nearly VND21,000 billion.
The Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh Expressway has officially started construction in February 2025, expected to be completed in 2027. This is the first expressway directly connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and further in the Central Highlands region.
The first inter-provincial metro line connecting Ho Chi Minh City - Binh Duong is under study. This route extends from Suoi Tien Station (HCMC) to S1 Station in the new city of Binh Duong, with a total length of more than 32.4km, a design speed of 120km/h, and an investment capital of more than 64,370 billion VND. The project is expected to start construction in 2027 and be put into operation in 2031.
Meanwhile, currently, traffic connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau is mainly via water or long-distance roads. The car trip usually takes 2 - 3 hours to cross National Highway 1, National Highway 51 or Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway. For motorbikes, people have to go around Bien Hoa, Long Thanh or take Cat Lai ferry to Nhon Trach.
This situation is being gradually resolved by many strategic transport projects. Nhon Trach Bridge, part of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project, has been technically opened to traffic, opening a new route from Thu Duc City to Nhon Trach, shortening the distance to National Highway 51.
The Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway projects (expected to be completed in 2026) and Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway, when connected to Ring Road 3, will form an interconnecting traffic network, making the journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau faster and more convenient.
Another promising connection is the southern coastal route of Ho Chi Minh City. The section passing through Ho Chi Minh City is 45.5km long, connecting from Go Cong Dong district (Tien Giang) to Phuoc An port (Dong Nai) and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh expressway. The plan to build a Can Gio - Vung Tau overpass, about 10km long, with a scale of 6 lanes, is also taken into account. If implemented, this bridge will be about 40km shorter than the journey.
A boost for modern transportation
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Anh Tuan - Director of the Center for Transportation - Research (Viet Duc University) - said that over the years, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau have developed infrastructure very strongly, but there are still periods when "everyone is strong enough to do it". After the three localities are merged, the resonance will be very high, avoiding overlap and creating a more synchronous and modern infrastructure system.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa - urban expert, the development trend of multi-center urban areas such as Ho Chi Minh City - Binh Duong - Vung Tau will require urgent investment in an "interconnected - modern - sustainable" transportation system. "After the merger, the implementation of projects such as inter-provincial metro or trans-regional expressway will no longer be subject to administrative barriers as before" - Mr. Hoa commented.
Mr. Luong Minh Phuc - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Construction Investment Management Board - also said that the merger of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau will open up opportunities to mobilize greater resources to invest in infrastructure. "In the near future, we will not only do individual projects, but will be a comprehensive network planning, prioritizing the main axes connecting urban - industrial - seaport - logistics" - Mr. Phuc said.
