Vietnam aims to link SE Asia to Indian Ocean

The stretch from An Ph​u Intersection in District 2 to Ring Road 2 in District 9 in HCM City, part of the ​Ho Chi Minh Expressway (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi(VNA) - Vietnam plans to invest in its transport infrastructure comprehensivelywhile linking development strategies among sectors in order to develop amulti-modal transport environment, making the country the gateway connectingSoutheast Asia to the Indian Ocean.

This wasthe target of a master plan on developing infrastructure and linking nationalinfrastructure with other regional networks from now until 2020. The masterplan was approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on February 7.

Accordingto the plan, Vietnam will give priority to construction work which ensures theconnection between national modes of transport, major economic centres, keytransport hubs and traffic infrastructure networks in the region.

Specifically, the country will focus on building expressways, including the HoChi Minh Expressway, and upgrading and connecting national highways of thenorthern and southwest belt roads and sea routes linking Vietnamese ports withneighboring countries such as Lao, Thailand and Cambodia. Around 2,000kilometres of highways will be completed and put into use by 2020.

The country aims to complete construction projects to connect the route fromnorthern Cao Bang province’s Pac Bo district to southernmost Ca Mau province’s DatMui district with a two-lane road.    

In termsof its sea route network, Vietnam will focus on construction work that connectsseaports with national transportation networks and logistics hubs in theregion. Dry ports and other infrastructure that supports the development oflogistics services will also be given priority.

Development of waterway systems is also important. Vietnam has set a goal tocomplete the national technical regulations on domestic waterways. Water routesconnecting the Mekong Delta region with HCM City and other routes of Tien, Hau,Hong and Thai Binh rivers will be upgraded.

Thecountry will continue upgrading and modernising three international airports,including HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport, Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, and Da NangAirport. Other facilities will also be built at other airports to help achievetotal designed capacity of airports of between 110-120 millions of passengersand 1.5-2.5 millions of cargo by 2020.-VNA

VNA