While construction has accelerated, the administration said progress remained slow at several rest stops, with some already providing basic facilities but still lacking food, fuel and electric vehicle charging services.
Investors have been told to increase manpower, add construction teams and shifts, and complete all rest stops in 2026 in line with contractual schedules.
Rest stops on the Dien Chau-Bai Vot, Cam Lo-La Son, Van Phong-Nha Trang, Nha Trang-Cam Lam and Cam Lam-Vinh Hao sections, as well as the facility at Km77 on the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon section, have been ordered to complete essential facilities and begin operations in August.
Authorities have also called for tighter management to ensure traffic and workplace safety and environmental hygiene as travel demand rises during the holiday.
Project management boards have been instructed to closely monitor construction progress, while regional road management authorities will inspect sites and help investors organise traffic at facilities preparing to open.
Delays have largely been attributed to difficulties in land clearance, according to Ngo Lam, deputy head of the Road Administration.
Land handovers were delayed by 15 months at the Phan Thiet-Dau Giay rest stop, 14 months at Nha Trang-Cam Lam and 12 months at Nghi Son-Dien Chau. Several other projects faced delays of six to nine months.
Procedures involving mineral recovery and conversion of forest land have also delayed some projects by three to five months.
Major investors, including the Petrolimex consortium with nine rest stops and the Futabuslines-Thanh Hiep Phat consortium with five, have also faced delays during project preparation and construction.
The Road Administration said investors breaching their contracts would be required to address delays within set deadlines. Continued violations could result in shorter operating periods or contract termination.