GOVERNMENT LEADERS LIGHT A FIRE UNDER EXPRESSWAY CONSTRUCTION

It is challenging to accurately tally the visits made by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his deputies to the construction sites of major transport projects. Since the start of their term, it appears they have not taken a single day off. 

Despite strict construction conditions and unprecedented challenges, many recent expressway projects have successfully “reached the finish line.”  

On April 30, two critical sections of the North-South Expressway (Mai Son - National Highway No. 45 and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay), spanning over 162 km—officially opened, moving closer to the vision of a continuous expressway from north to south of Vietnam.

It is also a victory of the spirit of “overcome the sun and conquer the rain” to bring key transport projects to the finish line, as promised by Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh: “What is said must be done, what is committed must be implemented, what is implemented must have concrete outcomes.”

At the Bai Vot - Ham Nghi construction site, part of the Eastern North-South Expressway Project (phase 2021-2025) undertaken by Vinaconex Joint Stock Corporation in partnership with the 319 Corporation Ministry of National Defense, the atmosphere is charged with hustle and determination, as hundreds of workers press forward with visible dedication.

Mr. Pham The Cong, Director of the Vinaconex Executive Board with over 20 years of experience in constructing major national transportation projects, expressed that he has never seen such determination and commitment to accelerating transport project timelines as he does now.

Vinaconex is constructing 22.35 kilometers of the 35-kilometer Ham Nghi - Bai Vot section, spanning from Bai Vot to the border of Can Loc district. Although structurally straightforward, this section requires intensive geological and technical processing due to weak soil conditions along the route.

With challenging central region weather, especially during intense heat, construction shifts start early, from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., resuming from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. During peak times, workers operate overnight and even through holidays, with a motto: “When daylight isn't enough, work through the night.”

Currently, about 700 Vinaconex employees and workers (20-30% local hires) are deployed on the Bai Vot - Ham Nghi site, organized into 15 bridge construction teams and 15 road construction teams, supported by nearly 400 vehicles and heavy machinery running constant shifts to expedite progress, Mr. Cong said.

He noted that when the project contract was signed on the first day of 2023, all procedures of design, bidding, and contractor selection were completed in a very short time.
Although initial progress was slowed by material shortages and site clearance issues, strong direction from the Prime Minister spurred action. Ministries, departments, and local authorities mobilized resources and introduced solutions to overcome these obstacles.

“By addressing these bottlenecks, the project has surged forward after months of delay,” Mr. Cong added, reporting that soil and sand for ground filling now reach 95-99%, with the entire project over 70% complete.
According to Mr. Pham The Cong, securing land, sand, and other essential materials for expressway construction traditionally took around six months due to extensive bidding procedures. However, under the directive of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh from

April 2023 to expedite administrative processes, this timeframe was streamlined beginning in, cutting the material sourcing period by six to seven months.
Existing mines designated for direct contractor management, extraction, and operation that material sources were allocated exclusively for the expressway.

The Bai Vot - Ham Nghi section is contractually set to be completed by September 30, 2025. Yet, the Prime Minister has called for an expedited timeline, requesting completion by April 30, 2025, six months ahead of schedule.

To meet this ambitious goal, Vinaconex and the project investors have mobilized all resources to accelerate progress while maintaining investment efficiency and project quality.

Construction machinery has increased to 1.5 times the initial quantity, exceeding 500 units, and the workforce, instead of 500-600 as planned, has grown to over 700, organized into 24-hour shifts to keep the project on track.

“The April 30 deadline is a high-stakes target, but we’re pushing hard to meet it,” Mr. Cong said, noting that both field and office staff are fully committed to the accelerated timeline encouraged by the Prime Minister.

Mr. Cong highlighted that overtime workers receive enhanced wages, meals, and benefits, fostering high morale and dedication on site. Unlike past days when workers awaited the signal to start their shifts, today’s teams work proactively with enthusiasm and commitment.

Reflecting this dedication, the entire workforce stayed on-site through National Day September 2, leveraging favorable weather to maximize progress.

Mr. Le Van Quyet, overseeing the Bai Vot - Ham Nghi expressway construction across Quang Loc, Trung Loc, and Xuan Loc communes, reported that machinery and workforce have been ramped up in recent months to achieve basic completion before the onset of the rainy season.

As of now, 95% of earthwork is done, and 40% of the road structure has been laid. The next steps include graded aggregate, reinforced asphalt concrete, and installation of safety barriers, road marking, and other auxiliary features. 

“I’ve never seen expressway construction advance at such a rapid pace,” he added, underscoring the unprecedented momentum driving this crucial project forward to complete by April 30, 2025.
Despite mounting pressure and shrinking timelines, Mr. Quyet reports that the expressway construction team remains motivated to tackle each challenge, united in their commitment to meet the project's goals.

Mr. Quyet gestured toward Long Tuong Mountain, a short distance from the site, identifying it as the project’s most formidable obstacle, where road construction required cutting directly into the rocky mountainside. 

"Because Long Tuong Mountain is so close to a residential area, blasting is not feasible. For more than 15 months, we've had to manually break the rocks by hammers—around 180,000 cubic meters in total—a task that’s proven exceptionally difficult," he explained.

Adding to the complexity is the harsh Central region climate, where intense sun and prolonged rainstorms can damage sections under construction, forcing teams to restart their work.

Observing his colleagues working with unwavering focus, Mr. Quyet affirmed that reaching the April 30, 2025 deadline set by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is achievable thanks to the entire team’s collective resolve.

Accompanying engineer Tran Dang Phu to the construction site of Thanh Dong Bridge, the second-largest bridge on the Can Tho - Hau Giang Expressway, Dan Tri reporters observed workers lowering beams and pouring concrete for the bridge deck. As sudden, heavy rain began, the concrete crew quickly shielded the freshly poured surface with tarps in the downpour.

"This season, we face frequent rains, two to three times a day, lasting 30 to 60 minutes each," Mr. Phu said. "Rain during concrete pouring is especially worse; we must halt work until it stops. If the delay is prolonged, we’re forced to dump the entire concrete truck."

Under Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's directive to “overcome the sun, conquer the rain” workers persist through light rains, pausing only for heavy downpours, the contractor's representative stated. 

Mr. Phu emphasized the urgency of progress, noting that, the bridge project aims to finish ahead of schedule to allow service roads for construction traffic.

“Since Thanh Dong Bridge marks the boundary between Can Tho and Hau Giang provinces, we must open the bridge by year’s end—an entire year ahead of the main project deadline so the pressure on our pace is very intense,” he explained.

Mr. Thai Truong Giang, Chairman of Hai Dang Group, the contractor for the Hau Giang - Ca Mau Expressway, recalled the 11-month standstill following the project’s groundbreaking on January 1, 2023, due to a lack of sand.

During this period, the exorbitant price of commercial sand—nearly three times the state-set rate—posed a significant challenge. “At those prices, purchasing sand to the construction sites would mean inevitable business losses,” Mr. Giang explained. 

To address the bottleneck, PM Pham Minh Chinh took decisive action, issuing clear directives to allocate sand mines directly to contractors.

“The Prime Minister issued numerous documents, convened meetings, and personally guided the process of transferring mining rights to the contractor,” Mr. Giang recounted.  

The PM has implemented a policy; however, if the governing authority, the Ministry of Transport, lacks determination, progress will be stalled. Mr. Giang also praised that ministry leaders consistently monitored the construction site and facilitated critical discussions between contractors and provincial authorities to overcome hurdles.

The unwavering resolve of workers on-site stems largely from the proactive leadership of the government, particularly Prime Minister Chinh, who has consistently prioritized removing obstacles and inspiring progress.  

Counting the visits of the Prime Minister and his deputies to major transport project sites is almost impossible. Since taking office, they have toured projects nearly every weekend and holiday, providing encouragement and resolving bottlenecks.  

During the April 30 and May 1 holidays, for instance, PM Chinh visited multiple transportation projects, including the inauguration of the Cam Lam - Vinh Hao expressway on April 28. This project, which the PM personally inspected three times, saw significant breakthroughs after he imposed specific progress requirements and addressed obstacles to the project's construction.  

Previously, when inspecting the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road No. 3 and sections of the Eastern North-South Expressway, the Government leaders not only motivated workers but also set strict quality and progress benchmarks.  

Phrases like “overcome the sun, conquer the rain,” “when daylight isn't enough, work through the night,” and “construction continues through holidays”, etc. have become familiar and “synonymous” with Prime Minister Chinh’s leadership.

His relentless determination has quickly spread and inspired motivation across localities, creating an environment where hesitation is no longer an option. 

In mid-July, PM Chinh conducted on-site inspections, urging swift progress on critical expressway projects in the Mekong Delta. These include the Can Tho - Ca Mau, Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang, Cao Lanh - An Huu, and My An - Cao Lanh expressways, as well as the Ho Chi Minh Road sections from Rach Soi to Ben Nhat and Go Quao to Vinh Thuan, etc.

On August 17, during a working visit to Dak Lak province, the Prime Minister reviewed the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project Phase 1. This expressway spans 117 kilometers with four lanes and a total investment of VND 21,935 billion.  

To expedite site clearance and resettlement for the project, the PM has issued 12 key directives, including 10 conclusion notices and 2 official telegrams. These efforts have resulted in 94% of the site clearance being completed.  

At the construction site, the Prime Minister was particularly impressed by the officers, engineers, and workers' adaptability to harsh weather conditions, working tirelessly in the spirit of “overcome the sun, conquer the rain.”

He also expressed gratitude to residents who gave up their land for the project, encouraging continued support and collaboration for its successful completion.  

The Prime Minister's frequent visits to construction sites, alongside his government delegation, have become a familiar and inspiring sight, boosting morale for thousands of officers, engineers, and workers striving to meet projects’ timelines.

His hands-on approach involves addressing even the smallest on-site issues, enabling practical solutions and removing bottlenecks in real-time. 

These visits are not merely symbolic; they demonstrate a leadership style rooted in understanding ground realities and taking decisive action.  

As the “express dream” gradually becomes a reality, it is evident that this achievement comes not overnight but through relentless effort, sweat, and the government’s strong leadership with the spirit of “dare to think, dare to act, dare to innovate, and dare to take responsibility in service of the people.”

Nội dung: Hoài Thu, Ngọc Tân

Thiết kế: Tuấn Huy