Vietnam intends to complete the main works on the expressway Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot by the end of 2026, despite falling behind schedule. On September 11, the Vietnam Road Administration demanded that the investor and contractors accelerate construction and submit updated plans for all lagging sections.
This refers to the second section of the project's first phase. Currently, about 78% of the contracted work volume has been completed, and technical traffic has already been organized on approximately 35 out of 37 km of this section.
At the same time, about 22% of the work remains to be done. Among the main challenges are a shortage of crushed stone for asphalt concrete production, a lack of labor and machinery, as well as a lower rate of disbursement of allocated funds compared to the national average.
Additional difficulties are associated with the consequences of the 2025 rainy and storm season. In certain sections, technical solutions need to be finalized, including on cut slopes and in areas where bridge piers are located on slopes. The Road Administration has demanded that the relevant documentation be finalized by September 15 so that the necessary works can begin before the onset of the new rainy season.
Contractors must additionally mobilize labor, machinery, and equipment, as well as find additional sources of crushed stone for asphalt concrete production. The Road Administration has requested a detailed schedule for each lagging facility, indicating deadlines for material supply, equipment mobilization, and work execution. The schedule must also provide for time reserves in case of adverse weather.
The total length of the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway is 117.5 km. About 32.7 km is located in Khanh Hoa, and another 84.8 km in Dak Lak province. The highway is being built with four lanes, and the total cost of the project is approximately VND 21.935 trillion.
The project is divided into three sections. The first section, passing through the territory of Khanh Hoa, is allocated VND 5.632 trillion, the second section - VND 9.818 trillion, and the third section, located in Dak Lak - VND 6.485 trillion.
The first 20 km of the highway were opened to traffic as early as the end of May 2025. The remaining sections are planned to be largely completed in 2026, with the highway to be fully put into operation in 2027.
The new highway is expected to connect Khanh Hoa with the central districts of Dak Lak and improve transport connectivity between the coast and the Central Highlands. Authorities are now striving to accelerate the construction of the remaining sections to achieve the goal of completing the main works by December 31, 2026.