The South Central Coast - Central Highlands region, including 13 provinces and cities: Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong with all 5 modes of transport: by road, rail, inland waterway, sea and air.

Current status and connection of traffic network

A section of traffic route pass through the Central Highlands. Photo: HAI SON

In recent times, with the attention of the Party and the State, the regional traffic system has been invested in and significantly improved, basically meeting the travel needs of the people. Looking into the past, 20 years ago, to go through Viet Nam’s central region, there was only National Highway 1A with countless difficulties in traffic infrastructure.

But everything has changed positively in recent years, with a series of key traffic projects such as the Eastern Expressway, the coastal road stretching from North to South and Ho Chi Minh Road. This area is expected to accelerate strongly in terms of socio-economic development to a new height. In particular, the South Central Coast - Central Highlands region will be the "runway" for the central region ‘ship’ to move forward.

Director of the Da Nang Department of Transport Bui Hong Trung said that according to the Road Network Development Plan for the 2021- 2030 period with a vision toward 2050, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1454/QD-TTg dated September 1, 2021, the entire region has 10 expressways (including 2 expressways North - South East and North - South West; the remaining 8 routes are inter-regional connecting routes) and the Ministry of Transport is submitting to the Prime Minister to add the Quang Ngai - Kon Tum Expressway project to the Plan.

Along with that, traffic in the region has been initially strengthened, such as international connections through road border gates, through the East-West Economic Corridor connecting with neighbouring countries Laos and Cambodia, through a system of 6 border gates: 3 international ones namely Bo Y/Phu Cua Border Gate (Kon Tum/Attapu) and Le Thanh/O Za Dao (Gia Lai/Ratanaki); Nam Giang/Dak Ta Ooc Border Gate (Quang Nam/Xekong) and 3 national ones: Dak Rue/Chi Miet (Dak Lak/Mondonkiry); Dak Peur/Busara (Dak Nong/Mondonkiry); Bu Prang/Dak Dam (Dak Nong/Mondonkiry).

Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port is viewed from above. Photo: PHUONG UYEN

Inter-regional and inter-provincial connections are through a system of vertical and horizontal axes, through the backbone axes of National Highway 1A, Ho Chi Minh Road, coastal roads, National Highway 14C, National Highway 14B and Eastern Truong Son Road...

In addition to roads, the transport system in the region also includes railways. However, the current state of the North-South railway infrastructure through the central region is still limited, the scale of technology is outdated, the load capacity does not meet the requirements, many tunnels are degraded, affecting the ability to exploit and ensure train safety.

With regard to inland waterways, the South Central Coast - Central Highlands region has relatively large rivers and some canals with the ability to exploit transportation such as the Han River (Da Nang), Thu Bon River (Quang Nam), Se San River, Serepok River flowing to Cambodia and flowing into the Mekong River; Ba River from Gia Lai flowing to Da Rang River (Phu Yen) and Dong Nai River from Lam Dong flowing to Dong Nai.

When it comes to sea routes, the whole region has 8 seaports, comprising of 5 type I seaports and 3 type II seaports. Notably, there are currently 8 airports in the region, namely 3 international airports Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong and 5 domestic ones Chu Lai, Phu Cat, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot. Currently, except for the Buon Ma Thuot Airport, the remaining airports have a number of passengers and cargo that do not exceed their design capacity.

An overpass at the Hue intersection. Photo: THANH LAN

Connectivity will help the South Central Coast - Central Highlands region take off

In the past 10 years, this region has been strongly connected through road, sea and air traffic projects. Key regional connectivity projects have begun to be developed, shortening distances, expanding space, increasing trade and integration capabilities, helping localities get much closer to one another in many fields.

In particular, many large traffic infrastructure projects have been developed such as: Hai Van 2, Deo Ca, Cu Mong road tunnels, Da Nang - Quang Ngai, La Son - Tuy Loan, Cam Lam - Vinh Hao expressways, East - West Economic Corridor, Ho Chi Minh Road.

At the same time, the construction of a number of expressway sections on the North-South eastern route in the 2021 - 2025 period through the area, including the following sections: Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon, Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon, Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh, Chi Thanh - Van Phong, Van Phong - Nha Trang.

To date, more than 400km of expressways have been built and put into use: Da Nang - Quang Ngai, Lien Khuong - Da Lat; La Son - Hoa Lien; Cam Lam - Vinh Hao; Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet; Nha Trang - Cam Lam.

There are currently 30 national highways with some sections passing through many cities and towns, creating many opportunities for the Central Viet Nam- Central Highlands regions to connect, trade and economic linkage are much more favourable, thereby attracting many investors to this difficult yet very potential land.

A section of National Highway 14B passes through Da Nang. Photo: PHUONG UYEN

The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport always emphasises the importance of regional connectivity, including the rapid change of regional transport infrastructure, on the journey of national development and global integration.

The viewpoint is to take the development of transport infrastructure as a driving force, creating space for regional development, while developing transport infrastructure in a synchronous, modern direction, conveniently connecting the entire region to seaports, domestic and international airports is the goal for the South Central Coast - Central Highlands region, and the whole country in general, for rapid and sustainable development.

The transport sector has synchronously developed the technical infrastructure system and social infrastructure, in which a multi-modal transport infrastructure network is formed, including the north-south and east-west road traffic axes; seaports, airports, airports, and a number of urban railway lines to connect with the national railway system.

By 2030, the region strives to have over 1,554km of expressways; effectively connecting seaports, economic zones, airports, international border gates, major trading hubs, coastal cities, economic centres and growth poles.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by ANH THU