Vietnam approves study of 257‑km Pleiku‑Buôn Ma Thuột‑Gia Nghĩa highway

The Ministry of Construction has authorized the Đức Long Gia Lai Group to conduct a feasibility study for a 257‑km north‑south western corridor highway linking Pleiku, Buôn Ma Thuột and Gia Nghĩa. The project, slated for a public‑private partnership, is estimated at nearly VND 77,000 billion (about US$3.5 billion) with the state covering roughly 70 % of the cost and the private investor contributing the remaining 30 %.

The first phase envisions a four‑lane, 24.75‑metre‑wide road designed for speeds up to 100 km/h, crossing the Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk and Lâm Đồng. Completion is targeted before 2030, with a maximum four‑year implementation period that includes up to one year of preparatory work and about three years of construction. Authorities expect the highway to cut transport time for agricultural products to southern ports by roughly one‑third, boost regional connectivity and serve strategic defence and security purposes. A virtual meeting in May 2026 between the construction minister and provincial leaders confirmed commitment to the project’s fast‑track development.