Work on the Nguyen Thi Dinh road expansion in Ho Chi Minh City pressed on during the New Year holiday as crews and machinery remained active on site to keep the project on schedule. The upgrade, covering roughly a 2km stretch from Giong Ong To bridge to the My Thuy junction, aims to improve access between An Phu, My Thuy and Cat Lai port, easing persistent congestion on the eastern approach to the city.
Nguyen Thi Dinh road expansion set to ease traffic and boost trade
Launched at the end of April 2025, the project carries a total investment of nearly VND 2,000 billion and is due to be completed by June 2026. The existing carriageway, which ranges from 7–8 metres, will be widened to 30 metres to accommodate six traffic lanes, wider sidewalks and an organised tree-lined verge. Project managers say the enlarged corridor will both reduce travel times and support the area’s economic growth by improving freight access to Cat Lai port.
Construction accounts for an estimated VND 253.91 billion of the budget, while compensation and site clearance represent more than VND 1,781 billion. After eight months of works, most properties along the alignment have been handed over as cleared land for construction, although a number of houses remain to be relocated. The project team is following a ‘clear as you build’ approach, completing work on sections as soon as they become available.
At the My Thuy junction, crews have already laid a temporary asphalt lane to maintain traffic flow and support the schedule. On site, workers continued detailed finishings, including laying granite paving for sidewalks. Anh Chau Ngoc Thuong, 45, who remained at the site through the holiday to help lay paving stones, said seeing the road take shape motivated the team during long hours. “Seeing the pavement appear day by day and giving people a clean sidewalk to walk on keeps us going,” he said.
Local resident and participant in the works, Nguyen Van Tuan, welcomed the improvements. He recalled years of flooding, dust and gridlock and said the upgraded thoroughfare with neatly paved sidewalks would help urban amenity and mobility. Residents also expect land values along the route to rise once the project is completed, supporting a revival in local commerce.
The project management board for the former Thu Duc City area confirmed priorities: complete each cleared section fully before moving on, finish sidewalks and apply temporary surfacing where necessary to return safe walking and driving space to the public as quickly as possible. This staged delivery aims to limit disruption while maintaining momentum on the critical link.
Once finished, the upgraded Nguyen Thi Dinh corridor is expected to reduce congestion in the Cat Lai zone and provide a modern transport artery that will stimulate trade and development across Ho Chi Minh City’s eastern gateway. Officials say the intervention will not only ease current traffic pressures but also lay the groundwork for future urban improvements and economic activity in the surrounding districts.
Key Takeaways:
- Nguyen Thi Dinh road expansion in Ho Chi Minh City continues through New Year, promising improved connectivity to Cat Lai port.
- Nearly VND 2,000 billion project will widen a 2km section to 30m with six lanes, expected complete by June 2026.
- Compensation and land clearance dominate costs, while construction and temporary surfacing keep traffic moving.
- Local residents and workers welcome the upgrade, anticipating reduced congestion and rising property values.
