On the afternoon of June 18, 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ho Chi Minh City Belt Road 4 project, specifically the nearly 48-kilometer section passing through Binh Duong province, marked a significant milestone in Vietnam's infrastructure development. Attended by Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh and leaders from various central ministries, the event underscored the strategic importance of this national key project in enhancing regional connectivity and economic growth.
The Binh Duong section of Belt Road 4 traverses major industrial cities including Tan Uyen, Ben Cat, and Bac Tan Uyen. This segment represents the first component project of the entire Belt Road 4, which stretches approximately 207 kilometers and passes through five localities: Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. The total project has been approved by the National Assembly with a capital investment of 120.4 trillion VND, aiming to be a transformative infrastructure artery for the southern economic hub.
The Binh Duong stretch is designed with four lanes and a design speed of 100 km/h, and construction is expected to be completed by 2027. The project is being implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, specifically a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract. The winning investor consortium for this section comprises Becamex IDC, Becamex IJC, and Deo Ca Group. The total investment for the Binh Duong section alone is 11.743 trillion VND, sourced from owner’s equity, loans, and other legal capital mobilization. Construction and preparation are slated to take 26 months from the contract’s effective date.
Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh emphasized the strategic significance of the Belt Road 4 project during his speech at the ceremony. He highlighted that the entire route, which spans over 200 kilometers, serves as a vital urban expressway for Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding provinces, including Long An, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. "The Belt Road 4 has very important significance, especially in regional connectivity and creating new development momentum," he said. The road is expected to form an industrial, urban, service, and logistics belt, fostering efficient inter-industry and inter-locality linkages.
Mai Van Chinh urged the provinces of Long An, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau to expedite investment preparation procedures so that their respective project components can commence construction by early 2026. For the Binh Duong section, although the groundbreaking has taken place, the Deputy Prime Minister called on the Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee and Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (after July 1) to rigorously oversee the project. He stressed the importance of ensuring progress, quality, safety, and strict compliance with technical and legal regulations, while preventing corruption, waste, and negative practices.
“Investment in transportation infrastructure is not just the task of a single ministry or locality; it is a political mission of all sectors and localities for the practical benefit of the country and the people, creating momentum and confidence to advance into a new era of rich, civilized, and prosperous development,” Mai Van Chinh remarked.
Besides the Belt Road 4 groundbreaking, the Binh Duong Provincial People's Committee also inaugurated three key provincial roads: DT.743, DT.746, and DT.747B. DT.743, stretching over 19 kilometers with 6 to 8 lanes, is designed to alleviate traffic pressure on National Highway 13 and improve circulation in populous urban areas such as Thu Dau Mot, Di An, and Thuan An. DT.746 spans more than 18 kilometers with 6 lanes, connecting Nam Tan Uyen and Thu Dau Mot City, serving as the shortest route to the urban center. DT.747B, over 19 kilometers long, links industrial parks and Song Than station, supporting inter-regional transport to Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai. The total construction value of these three projects is nearly 2.4 trillion VND.
These newly inaugurated roads directly connect to major industrial parks including Dai Dang, Kim Huy, Mapletree, and Song Than 3. Their completion not only enhances traffic capacity but also promotes public service development, improving access to education, healthcare, and overall quality of life. This is particularly significant as the integration plan merging Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau is set to officially commence operations on July 1, 2025.
The Belt Road 4 project is expected to drastically reduce traffic congestion on major routes such as National Highways 13 and 14 and the My Phuoc - Tan Van road. It is a breakthrough in building a connected inter-regional infrastructure system that responds to transportation demands across the Southeast region and beyond, including links to the Central Highlands, South Central Coast, and Cambodia.
Moreover, the road will open new urban development corridors for areas such as Nhon Trach in Dong Nai and several districts of Ho Chi Minh City, including Thu Duc, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, and Binh Chanh, as well as Ben Luc in Long An. The entire Belt Road 4 is divided into ten component projects, all executed under PPP contracts, with a total capital mobilization of about 50.6 trillion VND from investors and the remainder from central and local budgets.
Scheduled to start in 2025 and complete by 2029, the Belt Road 4 is poised to generate significant socio-economic ripple effects, not only for Ho Chi Minh City but also for the broader Southern Key Economic Region. It will accelerate economic restructuring, enhance logistics efficiency, and bolster national defense and security in this vital economic zone.
As Binh Duong province and its neighboring localities embark on this ambitious infrastructure journey, the coordinated efforts of government bodies, investors, and contractors will be critical to realizing the project’s full potential. The Belt Road 4 stands as a testament to Vietnam’s commitment to modernizing its transportation network and fostering sustainable regional development.
