Three national highways connecting Vietnam with northern Laos and China are expected to undergo upgrades at a cost of over VND9.4 trillion (US$386.5 million), according to the Department for Roads of Vietnam.

The department proposed the Ministry of Transport allow the former to upgrade two sections of National Highways 279, 4H in Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam and another section of National Highway 217 in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

In this road upgrade plan, the 38km-long section of National Highway 279 from Dien Bien District to Tay Trang international border gate, which links Dien Bien with Laos, would be widened to 12 meters and have two lanes.

The National Highway 4H and 217 sections subject to the expansion measure over 94 kilometers and over 52 kilometers long, respectively.

Of the total estimated investment, around VND7.5 trillion ($309 million) worth of loans borrowed from the World Bank is set to cover fees for construction, equipment purchase, consulting services, and others.

The remaining amount will be backed by the country’s reciprocal capital to pay for project management, consulting services, site clearance, and other taxes and fees.

This road upgrade project is set to be implemented in the 2025-29 period after a grant agreement inked between the World Bank and the project’s developer comes into effect, the department said.

If the project gets a green light from the central government, it will satisfy the growing need for transport and shorten the distance needed for vehicles to travel between border gates and seaports, helping reduce logistic costs and boosting trade between Vietnam and northern Laos and China, a leader of the department said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Twelve villas illegally built at the Ocean View Nha Trang project in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam are currently undergoing demolition due to exceeding their designated number of floors.

Authorities in Nha Trang City, the capital of Khanh Hoa, began dismantling five out of the 12 villas in question earlier this month, using the city’s budget to cover the total cost of over VND9.7 billion (US$397,800), according to Nguyen Cong Danh, chairman of the People’s Committee of Vinh Truong Ward, where the property is located.

The Nha Trang administration expects to collect the fees from the villa owners later.

Owners who do not pay the fees will see their bank accounts frozen and their land plots unavailable for any transactions.

The owners of the remaining seven villas have pulled down their structures themselves.

Construction of Ocean View began in 2009, approximately three kilometers away from the center of Nha Trang.

Out of the 69 villas within the project, 15 breached regulations related to excessive floor count, incorrect planning, and construction density.

At the end of 2021, Nha Trang authorities instructed the project investor, Thien Nhan II Trading and Services Co. Ltd., to remove these unauthorized structures. 

However, only three villas have been dismantled with insufficient funds cited as the reason for the delay in the demolition process.

Authorities in Khanh Hoa declared that the removal of unlawful buildings will continue until the end of 2024.

During the implementation of the project, Nguyen Viet Hung, chairman and director at Thien Nhan II, engaged in fraudulent activities and misappropriated property belonging to 13 victims that totaled VND28.7 trillion ($1.17 billion).

In June 2023, Hung was convicted and sentenced to an 18-year prison term by the People’s Court of Khanh Hoa Province.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!