Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction has authorised the drafting of an agreement with Laos on road transport to establish a comprehensive legal framework for cross-border transport between the two countries. Decision No. 1405/QD-BXD was issued on August 11, 2026, with the agreement intended to facilitate cross-border movement, strengthen infrastructure connectivity and support bilateral trade.
The drafting process will run from August to October 2026, with relevant agencies reviewing existing laws and international treaties related to road transport and assessing the potential political, defence, security and socio-economic impacts of the proposed agreement. The Department for Roads of Vietnam will lead the work in coordination with the Department of International Cooperation and other agencies.
The Ministry of Construction is expected to submit a formal proposal to commence negotiations and a proposal to conclude negotiations to the Prime Minister during the third and fourth quarters of 2026. Negotiations are expected to take one to two years, after which the two governments will undertake the required procedures for signing the international treaty.
The agreement is intended to address logistical bottlenecks and other obstacles affecting cross-border road transport, while improving the efficiency of transport connectivity and trade between Vietnam and Laos. It is also expected to provide a legal basis for implementing existing bilateral agreements and strengthening transport cooperation between the two countries.