According to the Ministry of Investment and Planning, the Mekong Delta will need USD16.5 billion in the next five years to strengthen its transportation systems and infrastructure, increase water storage and reduce riverbank and coastal erosion.
Just improving traffic infrastructure in the region will cost USD8.6 billion. Development work needs to be conducted on 1,000 km of expressways to increase connectivity and the project is estimated to cost USD6.49 million. The Ministry of Transport will prioritise the Cần Thơ – Cà Mau Expressway and look to complete the project by 2025. The government has also asked the Ministry to ask for private investments to finance work on HCM City – Trung Lương – Mỹ Thuận – Cần Thơ – Cà Mau highway. The Trung Lương – Mỹ Thuận Expressway will be completed and ready for operation in 2021.
Scaling port infrastructure is also a priority, especially projects to allow large ships to enter the Hau River and developing logistics and waterways across southern Vietnam. Other projects to increase inter-provincial connectivity will be considered by the government, with each province receiving funding for a major project that will enhance linkages with others.