The 3.6788-hectare area, classified as natural production forest, is located in Binh Lu Commune and will be used for transport infrastructure associated with the project.
The Lai Chau People's Committee was tasked with implementing the project, while the People's Council will oversee the conversion process to ensure compliance with forestry regulations.
The additional land clearance is expected to help accelerate the transport project, which aims to improve road connectivity and support economic development in the northern mountainous region.
The project comprises two routes with a combined length of about 200 km. One will connect Lai Chau with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway over 147 km, while the other will link Nghia Lo to the expressway over 53 km.
Construction began in December 2021 with an investment of more than VND 5.37 trillion (USD 236.7 million), funded by an Asian Development Bank loan, an Australian government grant and Vietnamese counterpart funding.