Quang Tri Provincial Party Secretary Vuong Quoc Tuan accelerates progress for key infrastructure projects in the province’s southern region

On September 26, a high-level delegation led by the Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee, Mr. Vuong Quoc Tuan, and the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, Mr. Bui Hoang Phuong, conducted a critical on-site inspection of several strategic infrastructure projects in the southern part of Quang Tri province. The visit served as a decisive move to address bottlenecks, enforce strict deadlines, and ensure the timely completion of projects that are vital to the province’s economic trajectory and regional connectivity.

A Strategic Push for Regional Infrastructure

The inspection tour focused on a series of transformative projects, including the My Thuy International Port complex, the construction of the 15D National Highway segment linking the port to the Cam Lo – La Son expressway, the Quang Tri Airport development, the National Highway 9 expansion from Cua Viet port, and various coastal road segments designed to integrate the East-West Economic Corridor.

For the provincial leadership, these projects are not merely construction tasks but are essential pillars for transforming Quang Tri into a logistics and maritime hub. The province is currently positioning itself to leverage its geographic advantage, connecting landlocked neighboring regions to international shipping lanes. However, as with many large-scale infrastructure developments, the projects have faced challenges ranging from land clearance disputes to technical coordination hurdles.

Accelerating the Quang Tri Airport Project

The Quang Tri Airport project is perhaps the most time-sensitive endeavor currently under the provincial government’s microscope. During the site visit, Secretary Vuong Quoc Tuan issued a stern directive to investors and contractors, emphasizing the absolute necessity of meeting the technical flight testing deadline scheduled for October 15.

The airport project, with a total investment exceeding 6,000 billion VND, is being executed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The private investor is responsible for approximately 5,821 billion VND, while the state covers land clearance costs totaling 327 billion VND. The Provincial Party Secretary underscored that any failure to meet the October 15 milestone would result in significant accountability for the project management board.

To facilitate construction, the provincial government has instructed local authorities to coordinate closely with the provincial police to maintain security and order. Mr. Tuan stressed that traffic management and site safety must be prioritized, ensuring that the movement of heavy machinery and construction materials does not impede local livelihoods or compromise road safety. Furthermore, the provincial authorities have requested the expedited completion of technical infrastructure for two Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to ensure full operational readiness by October 3.

Overcoming Bottlenecks at My Thuy International Port

The My Thuy International Port remains a cornerstone of the province’s development strategy. With an ambitious total investment of 15,000 billion VND and a planned area of 685 hectares, the port is designed to accommodate vessels of up to 100,000 deadweight tons (DWT). While berths No. 1 and No. 2 officially commenced operations on July 15, 2026, the overall project vision—which aims to complete four berths by 2027—is currently hindered by significant land clearance issues.

Approximately 145 hectares remain unresolved, affecting the relocation of hundreds of households and the necessary adjustments to existing infrastructure and burial grounds. Addressing these humanitarian and logistical concerns, Mr. Tuan has mandated that the investor prioritize the strengthening of their technical workforce and machinery to accelerate construction. Simultaneously, local government officials are required to engage in transparent dialogues with affected residents to resolve legitimate grievances, ensuring that resettlement processes are handled with both legal compliance and social sensitivity.

To address the immediate needs of the workforce and the surrounding community, the investor has been ordered to provide adequate water supply systems and implement technical measures to prevent saltwater intrusion in residential water sources, a common concern in areas near dredging activities. The provincial government has also approved the assignment of five additional specialists to the My Thuy commune to assist with administrative and land-related tasks, with these personnel set to begin work on October 1.

National Highway 15D: A Strategic Arterial Road

National Highway 15D, spanning 21 kilometers with an investment of 1,940 billion VND, is regarded as a strategic route for the regional economy. It is intended to connect the My Thuy Port directly to the La Lay international border gate. Currently, about 88% of the site has been cleared (covering 18.62 kilometers), and construction value has reached approximately 280 billion VND, or 24% of the project total.

Secretary Tuan emphasized that the utility of the My Thuy Port is inherently linked to the completion of this highway. Should the port be completed without a functional, high-capacity road connection, the return on investment for the entire maritime hub would be severely diminished. Consequently, the provincial leadership has set strict deadlines: land for the primary construction zones must be handed over by October 10, and all technical relocation—particularly regarding communication masts—must be finalized by October 15.

Analysis of Regional Implications

The aggressive monitoring and directive-heavy approach by the provincial leadership reflect a broader trend in Vietnam’s public investment management. As the nation faces increasing pressure to utilize public capital effectively to stimulate post-pandemic growth, Quang Tri is under scrutiny to demonstrate that it can navigate the complexities of large-scale infrastructure delivery.

The reliance on the East-West Economic Corridor, which links Quang Tri with Laos and Thailand, makes the 15D highway and the My Thuy port not just local or national assets, but regional ones. A successful completion would significantly reduce the transport distance of goods by approximately 70 kilometers compared to the current reliance on National Highway 9. This reduction in travel time and cost is projected to boost the logistics sector, potentially attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region’s industrial zones.

However, the challenges observed during the inspection—specifically the persistent issues with land acquisition and the environmental mitigation of dredging—highlight the risks of "top-down" project management without adequate local buy-in. The provincial government’s recent decision to increase staffing in the affected communes and mandate weekly progress reports indicates a shift toward more granular, hands-on governance.

Timeline for Upcoming Milestones

As the fourth quarter of 2026 begins, the provincial government has outlined a rigorous schedule to ensure fiscal absorption targets are met:

• October 1, 2026: Commencement of duty for the newly assigned support staff for land clearance and project coordination.
• October 3, 2026: Final deadline for the completion of technical infrastructure and operational handover of the two BTS stations.
• October 10, 2026: Deadline for the handover of all remaining land required for the 15D highway project.
• October 11, 2026: Deadline for contractors to submit revised construction progress reports and mitigation plans for any previous delays.
• October 15, 2026: Critical milestone for the technical flight testing of the Quang Tri Airport.
• October 25, 2026: Deadline for the resolution of all remaining land clearance issues related to household relocations at the My Thuy Port.
• December 31, 2026: Ultimate deadline for achieving at least 85% of the annual capital disbursement for all key infrastructure projects.

Concluding Directives

In his closing remarks, Secretary Vuong Quoc Tuan reminded all stakeholders that the province’s development is contingent upon the synergy between administrative efficiency and private sector performance. He urged local authorities to strictly adhere to existing legal frameworks while maintaining a focus on the needs of the population.

"We are at a juncture where the completion of these projects will dictate the economic future of this province for the next decade," Tuan stated. "There is no room for administrative inertia. Every department, every contractor, and every local official must understand that we are operating under a zero-tolerance policy for unnecessary delays."

By holding regular, weekly inspections and enforcing strict adherence to the disbursement schedule, the Quang Tri provincial government aims to ensure that the infrastructure projects currently underway do not fall into the category of "slow-moving" public works. Whether this centralized push will successfully overcome the systemic challenges of land acquisition and technical coordination remains to be seen, but the current administration has clearly signaled that accountability and speed are the new requirements for all parties involved in the province’s developmental roadmap.