Consensus Reached on Investment Plan for Tam Dao Tunnel Construction Project

On the afternoon of August 5, the People’s Committee of Phu Tho Province coordinated with the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen Province to hold a conference discussing investment plans for the construction of the Tam Dao Tunnel, connecting Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho provinces.

Attending the conference from Phu Tho Province were Comrades: Tran Duy Dong—Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Quach Tat Liem—Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; alongside leaders of various provincial departments, boards, and sectors.

From Thai Nguyen Province were Comrades: Trinh Xuan Truong—Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Vuong Quoc Tuan—Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Nguyen Linh—Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; alongside leaders of various provincial departments, boards, and sectors.

Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong speaks at the conference.

Secretary of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee Trinh Xuan Truong speaks at the conference.

Chairman of the Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan speaks at the conference.

Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Quach Tat Liem speaks at the conference.

The project to construct a tunnel through the Tam Dao mountain range connecting Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho provinces (Tam Dao Tunnel Project) was proposed to create the shortest transport route linking the two provinces while strengthening connectivity with the capital, Ha Noi. Upon completion, the project is expected to shorten travel times, stimulate trade, foster tourism, expand economic development space, and enhance investment attractiveness across the region.

Among the researched options, the consulting unit proposed selecting a route alignment traversing directly from the eastern to the western slope of the Tam Dao mountain range. Under this plan, the tunnel will measure approximately 2 km in length within a total route length of around 18.8 km—ensuring the shortest connection between the center of Thai Nguyen Province, Phu Tho Province, and Ha Noi, while minimizing environmental impacts.

The project is proposed for investment under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model using a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract, carrying a total investment of approximately VND 5,800 billion. Of this, state capital is projected to account for around 50%, with the remainder mobilized by investors. If approved, the project will be deployed during the 2026–2029 period.

The consulting unit recommended assigning Deo Ca Group to research and draft the project proposal. Simultaneously, both provinces will allocate resources for the investment preparation phase, striving for policy approval in 2026 and groundbreaking in 2027.

At the conference, delegates focused on analyzing the necessity of the project, discussing alignment routes, technical solutions, investment formats, resource mobilization capacity, and issues concerning planning, site clearance, environmental protection, and forest preservation.

Speaking at the working session, Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong emphasized: Deploying the project will help realize the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen provinces. It will also expand regional linkage space, creating a drive to attract investment and propel socio-economic development across both localities.

The Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee requested departments, sectors, and localities of both provinces to continue coordinating closely with the consulting unit and Deo Ca Group to review and finalize the project investment research plan, ensuring feasibility and investment efficiency. This includes carefully studying resource mobilization schemes, fully evaluating environmental impacts, site clearance plans, and socio-economic efficacy to serve as a basis for reporting to competent authorities for consideration and decision-making in the coming time.

Overview of the conference.

Highly praising Phu Tho Province’s proactiveness in surveying and researching investment schemes for the Tam Dao Tunnel Project, Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Secretary Trinh Xuan Truong and Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee Chairman Vuong Quoc Tuan noted that once deployed, the project will create a breakthrough in transport infrastructure. It will establish the shortest connecting route between Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, and Ha Noi—contributing to raising transport capacity, boosting regional integration, and creating favorable conditions to attract investment, industrial development, trade, services, and tourism for both localities.

Chairman of the Thai Nguyen Provincial People’s Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan requested that departments and sectors of both provinces maintain close coordination with the consulting unit and investor during planning reviews, refining technical schemes, financial models, and related procedures to ensure high project feasibility while meeting sustainable development requirements for both provinces.

Leaders of Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen provinces conduct a field survey in the project’s proposed area in Tam Dao Commune.

Prior to the conference, the joint working delegation from Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen provinces conducted an on-site survey of the proposed project implementation areas in Tam Dao Commune. Through the survey, the delegation evaluated implementation conditions and agreed on technical contents to serve ongoing research and project investment proposals.

Thuy Huong