Work across Vietnam’s largest transport projects has entered a sustained period of acceleration as contractors, engineers and thousands of workers push to meet firm mid‑2026 deadlines. From ring roads in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the Long Thành International Airport, multiple sites report significant progress, extended work shifts and tightened schedules to deliver improved connectivity and economic benefits.
Vietnam transport projects
At the Hong Ha bridge site on the third component of the Ring Road 4 around the capital, contractor Dat Phuong said favourable weather has allowed crews to ramp up operations. Nearly four months after the ground‑breaking, 15 work fronts now operate across three shifts with the aim of completing the package by 2027.
Meanwhile, component two of the Ring Road 4, which includes parallel carriageways, has moved into its final phase. Vinaconex, leading package 9, reported staff remained on site through the New Year holiday to maintain momentum. The contractor has completed more than 80% of the package and has pledged to finish by June 2026 in line with Hanoi city directives.
Package 8, managed by Truong Son Corporation, has exceeded 90% completion for a roughly 13km stretch and expects to substantially finish before the Lunar New Year, outpacing the planned schedule. Across the Hanoi sections overall, contractors have finished about 35 of 53km of the parallel roads on the Ring Road 4 corridor, with managers aiming to complete the rest in the second quarter of 2026.
On Ring Road 1, the Hoang Cau–Voi Phuc segment moved quickly after handover of the cleared site on 11 December 2025. Contractors have mobilised personnel and equipment to relocate underground and above‑ground utilities, remove tree cover and build the carriageway. The project team targets a technical opening by 15 January 2026 and full completion within the year.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the eastern section of Ring Road 3 has also advanced rapidly since work began in June 2023. The city‑scale element spans 47.3km within municipal boundaries and carries total investment of VND 22,412 billion. Of that, 14.7km of elevated viaduct from the former Thu Duc area toward the Nhon Trach bridgehead in Dong Nai has taken shape, and five construction packages in the eastern corridor report nearly 90% progress.
Workers on site described the new noise‑insulating glass panels being fitted along elevated sections as an unusual but welcome addition for local residents, improving the route’s appearance while reducing disturbance for nearby communities.
At Long Thành International Airport, some 15,000 staff and 3,000 pieces of machinery operate on rotating shifts across major packages. Runway 2 and associated airside works (package 4.12), launched in May 2025, are due for completion in June 2026; contractors report the runway and fuel supply systems are three months ahead of the original contract timetable.
The complex terminal package (5.10) remains the project’s core task. More than 5,300 personnel and over 1,000 machines are now on site installing critical systems. The baggage handling steelwork is 99% installed, ICS and conveyor lines are in place, and 200 screening units for checked and carry‑on luggage have arrived. The terminal’s construction was substantially finished by late 2025, and teams are now integrating and testing systems in preparation for commercial operations in the first half of 2026.
Project managers in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City stressed the importance of the dry season to accelerate surfacing works and complete remaining civil tasks. If current schedules hold, the completed road corridors and airport components will unlock faster freight movement, reduce congestion and support broader economic growth across the regions.
Officials note that sustained coordination among contractors, supervisors and city authorities will be essential to meet the tight timelines and to ensure safety and quality as projects move from heavy civil works to finishing, systems installation and commissioning.
Key Takeaways:
- Nationwide push to finish key highways, ring roads and Long Thành airport, with contractors running multiple shifts.
- Hanoi’s Ring Road 4 and allied packages report 80–90% completion on major segments.
- Ho Chi Minh City’s eastern Ring Road 3 and elevated viaducts have seen rapid progress; 14.7km of viaduct opened to technical traffic.
- Long Thành Airport works and runway construction advance rapidly, supporting scheduled commercial launch in mid‑2026.
