The Lai Chau National Assembly delegation has asked the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government and relevant ministries to support investment in the Bao Ha-Lai Chau Expressway.
The route would run for 49.5 kilometres through eight communes in Lao Cai and 112.5 kilometres through 12 communes and wards in Lai Chau.
It would start at the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway in Bao Ha Commune and end near the Ma Lu Thang International Border Gate in Phong Tho Commune, Lai Chau.
The four-lane expressway would have a design speed of 80-100 kilometres per hour and be fully funded by the central government.
Around VND46 trillion is expected to be allocated under the 2026-2030 medium-term public investment plan, with the remainder earmarked for the 2031-2035 period.
The project is expected to seek National Assembly investment approval in the fourth quarter of 2026, with construction scheduled to begin in late 2027 and completion targeted for 2031.
Lai Chau and Lao Cai have conducted field surveys and agreed on the route, scale and implementation arrangements. A pre-feasibility study has been completed and submitted to central ministries and agencies for feedback.
Lai Chau currently has no expressways, with connections to Hanoi and other lowland provinces relying mainly on national highways that cross steep mountainous terrain and are frequently disrupted by landslides during heavy rain.
The proposed expressway would provide a direct link to Ma Lu Thang International Border Gate on the border with China's Yunnan Province, improving cross-border trade and reducing logistics costs.
The route is also expected to support industry, logistics and tourism across Vietnam's northwestern region while improving transport links in the mountainous border province.