The People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province has submitted to the prime minister a proposal to build the Nha Trang-Dalat Expressway, with total investment estimated at VND 25.05 trillion (approximately USD 960 million).
According to the proposal, the 80.8-kilometre Nha Trang-Dalat Expressway will begin at an interchange with the North-South Expressway in Dien Tho Commune, Khanh Hoa Province, and end at the Darahoa interchange, connecting with National Highway 27C and Huynh Tan Phat Road in Lam Vien-Dalat Ward.
The expressway will feature four full lanes, a roadbed width of 22-24 metres and a design speed of 80-100 kilometres per hour. The project is expected to include about 13 kilometres of bridges and approximately 3 kilometres of road tunnels.
The preliminary investment cost is estimated at VND 25.05 trillion (approximately USD 960 million). Of that amount, nearly VND 18.9 trillion (approximately USD 724 million) will be allocated for construction and equipment, while more than VND 1.17 trillion (approximately USD 45 million) will be used for land clearance. The remainder will cover project management, consultancy services, loan interest and contingency costs.
If approved, construction is expected to take place between 2026 and 2028.
Under the proposed public-private partnership model, private investors would contribute about VND 8.77 trillion (approximately USD 336 million), equivalent to 35 per cent of the project's total cost. State funding would account for VND 16.28 trillion (approximately USD 624 million), or 65 per cent.
Khanh Hoa Province is expected to contribute VND 1.5 trillion (approximately USD 58 million), while Lam Dong Province would allocate more than VND 760 billion (approximately USD 29 million). The remaining VND 14.01 trillion (approximately USD 537 million) would be sought from the central government's 2026-2030 medium-term public investment plan.
Khanh Hoa authorities said the relatively high proportion of state funding was necessary because the route passes through mountainous terrain requiring numerous bridges and tunnels, resulting in substantial construction costs while traffic volumes are expected to remain modest during the initial years of operation.
The Nha Trang-Dalat Expressway is considered a strategic infrastructure project that would establish a key east-west transport corridor linking the Central Highlands with Vietnam's south-central coast. The route is expected to improve connections between economic and tourism centres and major seaports, particularly the Van Phong Economic Zone.
The project is also expected to expand development opportunities, strengthen regional connectivity and meet growing transport demand between Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces.
Currently, National Highway 27C serves as one of the key transport links between Dalat and Nha Trang. The route traverses the nearly 30-kilometre Khanh Le Pass, where steep slopes, winding sections and recurring landslides have frequently disrupted traffic, highlighting the need for a safer and more reliable transport corridor between the two cities.