'Tunnel King' proposes $115 mln ‘tourist’ expressway in central Vietnam

The Deo Ca Group has proposed building a six-lane, 20-km road as a “tourist route” linking Dong Hoi town with the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province.

At a working session with local authorities Wednesday, a group representative said the road would cost over VND2.81 trillion ($115 million) to build in the form of a public-private partnership (PPP).

It will start from Truong Phap street in Dong Hoi town and end at Km974+400 in Hoa Trach commune, Bo Trach district.

The project will create space for socio-economic development of Dong Hoi town and Bo Trach district as well as a connection between the Bung-Van Ninh Expressway, downtown Dong Hoi and Bo Trach beach.

In doing so, it would promote sea-based tourism among both domestic and foreign holidaymakers, the rep said.

Quang Binh Chairman Tran Thang welcomed the project saying it would be essential for the province’s socio-economic development, adding that it should not affect the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park heritage area.

The Deo Ca Group has invested in many road and tunnel projects across the country, including the VND4.7 trillion ($193 million) Truong Vinh tunnel on the North-South Expressway’s eastern section passing the north-central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An; and Cam Lam-Vinh Hao Expressway that runs through Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces in south-central Vietnam with a total investment capital of VND8.92 trillion ($366 million).

It is also carrying out procedures for approval of projects to build the Huu Nghi-Chi Lang Expressway running through Bac Giang and Lang Son provinces, the Dong Dang-Tra Linh Expressway in Cao Bang province, and the Tan Phu-Bao Loc Expressway running through Dong Nai and Lam Dong provinces.

Known as the “King of Tunnels” in Vietnam, Deo Ca has acquired fame for building the Deo Ca, Co Ma, Cu Mong and Hai Van 2 tunnels with a total investment capital of more than VND21.61 trillion ($887 million). At the end of 2021, its total assets were valued at nearly VND39.43 trillion ($1.62 billion).