Vietnam is planning to mobilize nearly VND 923 trillion (US$35 billion) to develop 29 priority expressway projects between 2026 and 2030. The Ministry of Construction intends to attract private-sector investment through public-private partnerships (PPPs), alongside potential public investment. The proposed projects include widening existing expressways, completing ring roads around major cities and constructing new routes to improve connectivity between economic centres, industrial zones, agricultural production areas and seaports.

Two of the largest proposed investments involve expanding sections of the eastern North–South Expressway. The Mai Son–Cam Lo section is estimated to require VND 72.185 trillion, while the Quang Ngai–Dau Giay section is expected to cost VND 78.224 trillion. Both are planned to be upgraded from four limited-access lanes to full six-lane expressways. Other major proposals include Ring Road 5 in the Hanoi Capital Region, the expansion of Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 from four limited-standard lanes to eight lanes, and new expressways connecting the Central Highlands with the south-central coastal region. Projects in the Mekong Delta are also intended to strengthen links between regional economic centres, border crossings and seaports. These investments are expected to reduce travel times, improve freight transportation, support tourism and encourage industrial and regional economic development.

Key challenges include land acquisition and clearance, rising compensation costs, limited access to bank financing and uncertainty over future traffic volumes and toll revenues. These factors can affect project returns and extend capital recovery periods, particularly for expressways crossing mountainous terrain. The government has therefore emphasized the importance of assessing each project's financial viability before selecting a PPP structure. Projects that are strategically necessary but commercially unviable may instead require public funding, potentially followed by private-sector concessions for operations, management or toll collection.

Vietnam's proposed US$35 billion expressway programme highlights the country's continued commitment to expanding transport infrastructure and improving regional connectivity. It could create significant opportunities for private capital participation through PPP and build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangements. Nevertheless, the announcement represents a priority investment pipeline rather than a confirmed list of awarded projects. The actual delivery of the 29 projects will depend on financing availability, project-level feasibility, government budget support, risk-sharing arrangements and progress on land clearance.