The Government Office said that, considering the proposal of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee (document No. 5423/UBND-CN2 dated April 6, 2026) on the Project to invest in the construction of the Viet Tri - Hoa Binh road, connecting the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway with the Hoa Binh - Son La expressway (hereinafter referred to as the Project), Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc has the following opinion:
Assign the Ministry of Finance to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and relevant agencies to study and have clear and specific opinions on the conformity with planning, investment necessity, investment decision-making authority, investment capital of the Project, and report to the Prime Minister before April 20.
Previously, Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee had an official dispatch sent to the Prime Minister reporting on the progress and proposing the implementation of the Viet Tri - Hoa Binh road construction investment project.
Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee proposed that the Prime Minister allow the project to be implemented in the form of public investment. In which, support from the central budget is 50% of the total investment to organize implementation (the total investment according to this plan is 15,300 billion VND).
In a document sent to the Prime Minister, Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee said that the Project has been added to the list of projects calling for investment in the province in the period 2026 - 2030.
The project has a scale of a 4-lane expressway, about 56 km long. The total estimated investment is about 15,300 billion VND; if implemented in PPP mode, the total investment is about 15,967 billion VND.
After being posted to call for investment according to regulations, only 1 investor proposed to study and implement the Project.
However, after carefully studying the information, the investor officially withdrew the proposal on the grounds that the PPP plan in the current period has not ensured the feasibility and financial efficiency as expected.
According to Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee, the fact that only 1 investor is interested and then withdraws shows the inherent risks of the Project if the PPP method is applied.
In the current context, switching to public investment (using 100% state budget capital) is considered a more appropriate option, helping to proactively mobilize resources and create motivation for socio-economic development.
Currently, the connection between Viet Tri and Hoa Binh is mainly through provincial roads 316, 317, 317G and National Highway 70B.
These routes have narrow cross-sections, a road surface width of about 8 - 9 m with 2 lanes. Many sections have deteriorated, limited traffic capacity, and pass through crowded residential areas, not meeting the increasing transportation demand after the arrangement.
In that context, the formation of the Viet Tri - Hoa Binh connecting road is of key significance in shortening the space and travel time.
This route also creates a foundation for forming an inter-provincial network with 2 expressways Noi Bai - Lao Cai and Hoa Binh - Son La. This is also a pivot opening up new development space, forming an economic corridor along the Da River, contributing to strengthening inter-provincial and inter-regional connectivity.
