DECISION

APPROVING THE DETAILED MASTER PLAN ON HO CHI MINH ROAD

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government:

Pursuant to Resolution No. 38/2004/QH11 of December 3, 2004, on the policy on investment in construction of Ho Chi Minh road, of the 6th session of the XI^th National Assembly;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 242/QD-TTg of February 15, 2007, approving the master plan on Ho Chi Minh road;

At the proposal of the Minister of Transport,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the detailed master plan on Ho Chi Minh road (below referred to as the detailed master plan) with the following principal contents:

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- The detailed master plan must be in line with the transport development strategy and approved master plans as well as socio­economic development strategies of the provinces through which the road runs; and satisfy the near future and long-term transport needs to serve socio-economic development and security and defense maintenance.

- The detailed master plan must basically indicate the sizes, route directions and control points provided in Decision No. 242/QD-TTg of February 15,2007. However, in order to suit current and future socio-economic developments, transport need forecasts and implemented or to-be-implemented master plans and projects, route directions, sizes and technical standards of a number of sections in the master plan may be adjusted.

- On the basis of route directions, sizes and technical standards of road sections invested in phases I and 2, the route directions of expressways in the detailed master plan shall be determined on the following principles: Sections already up to expressway standards (but having only two lanes in phases 1 and 2) will be further invested to have sizes indicated in the master plan; for sections being sections of national highways currently in use, but up to lower technical standards, it is necessary to select carefully appropriate expressway directions, assuring socio-economic effectiveness.

- The detailed master plan is to implement phase 3 of the master plan: To complete building the whole road and step-by-step build sections up to expressway standards and the approved master plan, railway or crossroads master plans and other related master plans, satisfying near future and long-term transport needs. To adjust investment phasing to conform to socio­economic developments and national security and defense and to suit capital sources and other related master plans.

2. Contents of the detailed master plan:

a/ Planning scope:

Ho Chi Minh road will run through 28 provinces and cities: Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Hanoi. Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Kon Turn, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau, with a total length of 3,183 km (of which the main route will be around 2,499 km long and the western route will be around 684 km long).

b/ Route direction:

The route direction indicated in the detailed master plan is basically the same as the route direction and control points approved in Decision No. 242/QD-TTg of February 15, 2007. However, in order to conform to the approved master plans of ministries, sectors and localities as well as implemented or to-be-implemented projects, the adjustment of the route direction and major control points in a number of sections will be made in the detailed master plan, to satisfy transport needs and socio­economic developments, specifically:

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- Ending point: Dat Mui, Ca Mail province.

- Major control points:

+ The main route will run through the following points: Pac Bo, Cao Bang town, Bac Kan town, Moi market, Chu market, Muong mountain pass, Trung Son T-junction, Phu Thinh T-junction, Binh Ca bridge (Lo river), Binh Ca T-junction (at Km 124+700/QL2 -Tuyen Quang), Phu Ho T-junction, Phu Tho town, Ngoc Thap bridge (Hong river), Co Tiet, Ba Vi, Son Tay (through the Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Village), Hoa Lac, Xuan Mai, Ben market, Kho hamlet, Ngoc Lac, Lam La, Tan Ky, Khe Co, Can Loc, the eastern area of Ke Go lake. Bung, Cam Lo, Tuan bridge. Khe Tre, De Bay mountain pass, Mui Trau mountain pass, Tuy Loan, Thanh My, Lo Xo mountain pass, Ngoc Hoi, Kon Turn, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot. Gia Nghia, Dong Xoai, Chon Thanh, Tan Van T-junction, Tan Thanh, My An, Cao Lanh city, Cao Lanh bridge (Tien river), Vam Cong bridge (Hau river), Lo Te, Rach Soi, Minh Luong, Go Quao, Vinh Thuan, Ca Mau city, Nam Can and Dat Mui.

+ The western route will run through the following points: Khe Co, Pho Chau, Tan Ap, Khe Ve, Da Deo mountain pass, Khe Gat (including Khe Gat - Bung section), U Bo mountain pass, Tang Ky, Can Khi, Sen But. Khe Sanh, Dak Rong, Pe Ke mountain pass. A Luoi, A Dot, A Tep, Hien and Thanh My. To date, it has been completely built under the master plan.

c/ Sizes and technical standards:

- Technical standards:

Sizes and technical standards applicable to the detailed master plan for sections other than expressways are subject to design standards TCVN 4054-2005; for expressways, expressway design standards TCVN 5729-1997 apply; for sections coincident with local roads under local urban master plans, urban road design standards TCXDVN 104-2007 apply.

- Construction scale:

Basically, the construction scale is approved in Decision No. 242/QD-TTg of February 15, 2007. In order to conform to socio-economic developments as well as transport need forecasts, related implemented or to-be-implemented master plans and projects, sizes and technical standards of a number of sections specified in Appendix I to this Decision (not primed herein) will be adjusted.

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The to-be-occupied land area under the detailed master plan in localities is specified in Appendix II to this Decision (not printed herein).

e/ Investment phasing and capital estimation:

Basically, the investment is divided into 3 phases as approved in Decision No. 242/QD-TTg of February 15, 2007. However, due to limited capital and difficulties in site clearance, and based on implemented and to-be-implemented master plans and projects as well as transport need forecasts on Ho Chi Minh road and local socio-economic developments, the investment phasing is adjusted as follows:

- Phase 1 (2000-2007): To complete building of Hoa Lac (Hanoi) - Tan Canh (Kon Turn) section with two lanes, including consolidation and anti-landslide, and commissioning in 2008.

- Phase 2 (2007-2015): To complete building the whole road from Pac Bo (Cao Bang) to Dat Mui (Ca Mau) with two lanes by 2015, and a number of big bridges by 2020.

- Phase 3: To concentrate on completing the whole road and step-by-step build sections up to expressway standards and according to approved master plans and capital sources, paying attention to connection with railway and crossroads master plans and other relevant master plans. The investment phasing in phase 3 is as follows:

From 2012 to 2020:

To build around 445 km up to expressway standards, including the following sections:

+ Doan Hung (Phu Tho) to Cho Ben (Hoa Binh), with a total length of 130 km, to be built with 4 - 6 lanes.

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+ My An (Dong Thap) to Rach Soi (Kien Giang) under the project on connection with the central transport system of the Mekong River delta, with a total length of 133 km, including Cao Lanh and Vam Cong bridges (there are projects alreadly funded with ADB loans, Korean Government's loans and other capital sources).

After 2020:

To step-by-step build remaining express sections and complete the whole road according to the approved master plan. This phase's investment is based on capital source allocation capacity, traffic flow and effectiveness of projects, and actual socio-economic

development and security and defense needs of each area to arrange sections in a reasonable priority order, including:

+ Binh Ca T-junction (at Km 124+700/QL2 - Tuyen Quang) - Doan Hung (Phu Tho) section, with a length of around 15 km. which will be built into a grade-II road with 4 lanes.

+ Ben Market (Hoa Binh) - Khe Co (Ha Tinh) section, with a length of around 322 km, which will be built into an expressway of 4 - 6 lanes.

+ Khe Co (Ha Tinh) - Bung (Quang Binh) section, with a length of around 165 km. which will be built into a 4-lane expressway.

+ Bung (Quang Binh) - Cam Lo (Quang Tri) section, with a length of around 117 km, which will be built into a 4-lane expressway.

+ Ngoc Hoi - Chon Thanh section running through the Central Highlands (Kon Turn - Gia Lai - Dak Lak - Dak Nong - Binh Phuoc), with a total length of around 494 km, which will be built into an expressway of 4 - 6 lanes.

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+ Chon Thanh - Tan Van T-junction section, with a length of around 63 km, which will be built into a 6-lane expressway.

+ The remaining sections with a total length of around 553 km will be completely built of a size approved in the detailed master plan (excluding Cho Moi - Binh Ca T-junction section with a length of 80 km and Tuy Loan -Thach My - Ngoc Hoi section with a length of 220 km which have been completed under planning).

f/ Investment capital sources:

- The total investment capital for phase 1 (2000-2007) with 2 lanes is VND 13,312 billion as approved in the Prime Minister's Decision No. 539/QD-TTg of May 3, 2007.

- The total investment capital for phase 2 (2007-2015) is VND 27,708 billion as approved in the Prime Minister's Decisions No. 242/QD-TTg of February 15, 2007, and No. 539/QD-TTg of May 3, 2007.

- The total investment capital for phase 3 is VND 273,167 billion, excluding VND 23,000 billion invested in 133 km of Ho Chi Minh road sections coincident with other funded and currently-implemented projects (total investment capital indicated in the detailed master plan at 2010 prices).

The investment capital for construction of Ho Chi Minh road will be raised from stage budget funds, government bonds, ODA capital and other lawful capital sources.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Transport, shall:

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- Based on the approved detailed master plan and capital sources, identify component projects which can operate independently and determine priority order for construction investment.

2. Related ministries and sectors shall, in the course of elaboration, approval and implementation of general planning on construction, socio-economic development master plans of localities, regions and sectors and other master plans related to Ho Chi Minn road, ensure conformity with the general master plan on construction along Ho Chi Minn road through 2020 as approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 27/2004/QD-TTg of March 2. 2004.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and related agencies in, proposing capital sources, mechanisms and policies for the construction of Ho Chi Minh road under the approved master plan.

4. Provincial-level People's Committees of localities through which Ho Chi Minh road runs shall:

Take over the planned boundaries and road corridor for Ho Chi Minh road handed over by the Ministry of Transport, manage them and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport in implementing approved projects.

Review and adjust local master plans and projects to make them conformable to the contents of the detailed master plan on Ho Chi Minh road.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees of localities through which Ho Chi Minh road runs shall implement this Decision.-

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PRIME MINISTER




Nguyen Tan Dung