The Prime Minister has approved a national master plan to develop the country’s road transport network by 2020 with a view towards 2030.

The master plan aims to meet the increasing demand for goods and passenger transport at realistic prices, ensure safety and convenience, reduce traffic accidents and limit environmental pollution.

Under the plan, the country will speed up the development of bus transportation in big urban centres, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City , tighten controls on the increase of private transport and end traffic jams.

In addition to upgrading the present motorway system, the country will soon start on a number of projects to develop additional motorways, particularly the North-South Express Route .

By 2020, Vietnam plans to have built 2,381 km of motorways, ensured technical standards on all national highways, completed the construction of major bridges and replaced all the dilapidated bridges along the nation’s highways.

All provincial roads will be asphalted or concreted, all communes will be accessible by road and all make-shift bridges will be replaced.

The plan also focuses on developing local transport networks to meet the demands of industrialisation and modernisation in rural areas and connecting local and national networks together in order to create a seamless transport system at a reasonable cost.

Looking towards 2030, the master plan will continue to upgrade the road transport network./.