Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project comes into operation, which importantly contribute to develop socio-economic, tourism services, commodity exchange and improve living standards in the region.

With total length of 688km passing through Pac Xan - Vieng Thong - Nam On (Laos) - Thanh Thuy (Nghe An, Vietnam), Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway is expected to bring new economic prospects for both countries.

The Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway with total length of 688km passing through Pac Xan - Vientiane - Nam On (Laos) - Thanh Thuy (Nghe An, Vietnam) promises to bring dynamic economic development prospects for both countries in the future

Moreover, project is put into operation, which will become driving force to promote economic development for Central provinces, including Nghe An with geo-economics advantages for the whole region.

Route of connection and trade

In February and October 2016, Vietnam Government and Laos Government approved alignment for Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway project passing through localities of Laos such as Pac Xan - Vientiane - Nam On and Thanh Thuy Border Gate of Nghe An province.

Previously, on September 14, 2015 in Vientiane capital, the Hanoi - Vientiane highway project was officially marked in the Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnam Government and Laos Government on the Transport Cooperation Strategy for the 2016-2025 period, vision toward 2030.

Next, to kick off the above expressway project on July 6, 2018, Ministry of Transport had a meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to agree on important contents.

When the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project officially puts into operation, it will combine with other highways of Thailand and Myanmar to form a new economic corridor in the Eastwest from the Pacific Ocean (Vietnam's deep seaports) to the Indian Ocean (Myanmar's Dawei port) with distance of about 1,500km. Meanwhile, current sea route exploited among these countries so far with a length of about 5,500km.

Thus, the above route will significantly reduce transportation costs for this route, contributing to increasing import and export turnover among both countries and Southeast Asian countries.

Create an "economic belt" across Asia

Total length of the project is 688km, new construction part is about 406 km, including 345 km in Laos and 61 km in Vietnam from Thanh Thuy border gate to Vinh city (Nghe An) and merging the North South highway to the East that Vietnam is building. Scale of the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project will have a of 4-6 lanes, designed speed of 100km/h - 120km/h. Particularly extremely difficult terrain sections are designed with speed of 80km/h and estimated total investment of about USD6.1 billion.

On the other hand, the chosen location and route will open a great opportunity for both Vietnam and Laos to establish an "economic belt" connecting the Northeast of Thailand and Myanmar, establishing an East-West economic corridor.

With the total length and scale of investment that Laos and Vietnam have recently agreed, the Hanoi - Vientiane expressway project comes into operation, which will open a trade route for both countries in the future.

Develop border gate economic zones

To expand and promote economic trade in Nghe An, in 2011, the Prime Minister agreed to upgrade Thanh Thuy and Nghe An border gates into a national border gate with plan to promote here as a bustling area in all field.

In Resolution No.26 of the Politburo issued in 2013 on direction and tasks of socio-economic development of Nghe An province by 2020, Thanh Thuy was mentioned to be an international border gate.

In 2018, when working with the Nghe An Standing Provincial Party Committee on planning of Thanh Thuy Border Gate, Thanh Chuong District, the Secretary of Party Central Committee, Director of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics agreed on important contents for locality to take next steps to build here into a bustling socio-economic development area in the future.

At that time, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang said that the planning of Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway had been agreed to implement by the Governments of the two countries, the Thanh Thuy border gate planning should be rebuilt appropriately.

Accordingly, Thanh Thuy Border Gate Economic Zone is located at a junction of Thanh Thuy Commune, Thanh Chuong District, Nghe An, intersecting National Highway 15A, known as Ho Chi Minh Road. Thanh Thuy Border Gate Economic Zone covers over 21,382 ha, located in 4 communes such as Thanh Thuy, Thanh An, Thanh Ha, and Vo Liet.

In addition, Thanh Thuy border gate is located on National Highway 46, bordering with Boly Khammill province of Laos, 68 km from Vinh city. Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics also expected efforts of Nghe An province and attention of ministries and branches to put Thanh Thuy border gate economic zone into operation soon.

Source: diendandoanhnghiep.vn