The National Highway 279 upgrade project is a key traffic project, of great significance in completing infrastructure, strengthening regional linkages, connecting the northern mountainous provinces with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway and international border gates.
The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Government, including two connecting routes with a total length of about 200km, with a total investment of more than 6,000 billion VND.
The section passing through the old Van Ban district (Lao Cai province) is about 60km long, mainly renovated and upgraded on the existing National Highway 279, implementation time is the period 2019–2026.
Records of Lao Dong Newspaper reporters at the beginning of February 2026 at the IC16 intersection area of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway show that many sections of the route have completed the main items, and vehicles can travel relatively smoothly.
Because it is a direct connection point with the expressway, with a large traffic volume, the upgrading and expansion of National Highway 279 is considered very urgent.
From IC16 intersection towards Van Ban commune, the roadbed has basically been completed. At the construction site, workers and many machines and equipment are focusing on handling the positive taluy area at risk of landslides. The working atmosphere is urgent, some road sections have been diverted and temporarily blocked to serve construction.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung, a resident of Van Ban commune, said that the investment in upgrading National Highway 279 makes travel more convenient, but the prolonged construction process has caused traffic difficulties in the past time.
We hope the road will be completed soon so that travel is safer and faster," Mr. Hung shared.
Talking to reporters, Mr. To Viet Thuong - Commander of package XL01 (Joint venture of Dat Phuong Group Joint Stock Company, Phuong Thanh Transport Construction Investment Joint Stock Company and 168 Construction Group Joint Stock Company) - said that the package was previously behind schedule due to problems with site clearance for protection forests. Up to now, the basic items have been completed, and the unit is focusing on handling points at risk of landslides arising outside the contract.
According to Mr. Thuong, from now until Tet Nguyen Dan, people can move smoothly on the route. However, some localized points due to natural disasters, the volume of soil and rocks to be treated is large, about 180,000m3, forcing the contractor to organize 3 consecutive shifts of construction, from 7 am the previous day to 6 am the next day. The route is expected to be completed and handed over in April 2026.
Information from Project Management Board 2 (Ministry of Construction) said that packages XL02, XL03 on National Highway 279 passing through the old Van Ban district are basically completed. Currently, contractors are focusing their efforts on handling the remaining landslide points at package XL01 to soon hand over and put the entire route into use.
Construction units are accelerating, determined to bring National Highway 279 to completion on schedule, meeting the expectations of the people and the socio-economic development requirements of the region.
