Proposal to invest in Nha Trang - Da Lat motorway

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has recently worked with leaders of Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa provinces and Son Hai Group on Nha Trang - Da Lat Motorway project in Lam Dong Province. At the meeting, leaders of Son Hai Group reported the plan and emphasized its urgent need to connect the two popular tourist destinations.

Investment needs

According to Son Hai Group, the National Highway 27C is currently the only route connecting Nha Trang City with Da Lat City. This route includes 30-kilometer challenging and winding Khanh Le Pass.  Due to the increasing demand for heavy transport from the Central Highlands to the South Central Coast seaports, it is crucial to connect the two key tourist centers of Da Lat City and Nha Trang City with a safer high-quality route.

Son Hai Group has proposed the Nha Trang - Da Lat Motorway Project with a starting point at the intersection with the North - South Motorway in Dien Tho Commune, Dien Khanh District; and the end point at Darahoa intersection in Ward 12, Da Lat City (Lam Dong Province). The total length of the motorway is about 80km with 4 lanes and a design speed of 80 - 100km/h. The total investment capital of the project is about VND29,642 billion implemented in the period of 2024 - 2028.

Nguyen Viet Hai, Chairman of Son Hai Group noted that the Nha Trang-Da Lat Motorway Project is a complex undertaking with significant investment requirements. However, Son Hai Group hopes to turn it to the most beautiful mountain motorway in Vietnam.

Existing National Highway 27C connecting Nha Trang City and Da Lat City.

Promoting development of the South Central Region and Highlands

According to the leader of Son Hai Group, Nha Trang - Da Lat Motorway is expected to shorten the travel time between Nha Trang and Da Lat by about 1 hour 30 minutes or 2 hours, helping to attract more travelers to take tours connecting the beautiful coastal city of Nha Trang and the romantic flower city of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province, contributing to boosting the tourism development in the whole region as well as effectively promoting the projects competed and underway, connecting economic centers, seaports, meeting the needs of transportation, logistics and so on.

At the working session with the Government delegation, Tran Hoa Nam, Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that preliminary survey shows that the Nha Trang - Da Lat Motorway Project affects more than 400 ha of forest area. Therefore, Son Hai Group needs to consider construction solutions, including tunnels to minimize affected forested land.

The Provincial People's Committee proposed the Prime Minister to allow the project to be implemented by 2030; approve the plan for the State funding of 70% of the budget capital to submit to the National Assembly for approval in principle; and assign the Provincial People's Committee to call for investment under public-private partnerships (PPPs).

According to Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan, the ministry currently has had no plan to allocate investment capital for Nha Trang - Da Lat Motorway Project. However, this is an essential project that plays an important role in the socio-economic development strategy of the South Central region and the Highlands, so it is recommended that the two provinces of Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong review the investment plans carefully.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, this is a very important project connecting the Central region with the Highlands. In the investment preparation phase, the Ministry of Transport needs to coordinate with the two localities and Son Hai Group to consider and develop the most optimal technical solutions; and complete the procedures and documents to submit to the authority for approval in principle.

V.K

Translated by N.T