Chinese construction major PCG eyes $383 mln underwater tunnel project in northern Vietnam

Pacific Construction Group (PCG), one of China’s leading construction firms, has expressed interest in developing a VND10 trillion ($383 million) underwater road tunnel in Quang Ninh, a coastal province in northern Vietnam.

The proposed tunnel would cross Cua Luc Bay, running parallel to the Bai Chay Bridge in Ha Long ward, PCG said during a meeting with provincial authorities on Thursday.

According to the plan, the project will span 2,750 meters, including a 1,000-meter immersed section and 1,140 meters of access tunnel.

Designed to accommodate six traffic lanes with a maximum speed of 60 km/h, the structure will be built at a depth of up to 17 meters below sea level and will be engineered to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude 6.

Construction is expected to take place between 2025 and 2030, and the investor will sort out appropriate investment and payment models under Vietnam’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) law.

During the meeting, PCG chairman Yan Jiehe described Quang Ninh as a strategic destination for investment, adding that the company has established a representative office in the province.

Local authorities pledged favorable conditions for the Chinese firm to complete investment procedures for the project as soon as possible.

PCG has operated in Vietnam since 2019, with a local subsidiary registered with $500 million in charter capital. The group has been seeking investment opportunities in transport infrastructure, logistics, and industrial zones across several provinces, including Bac Ninh, Lao Cai, and Lang Son.

In May 2025, the company was part of a consortium, along with local corporations Vingroup and Sun Group, received a contract to build the Tu Lien bridge across the Red River in Hanoi.