Bumpy road to the border gate

Heavy trucks pass through Nam Giang International Border Gate via National Highway 14D to the delta. Photo: CONG TU

Opening the road to the secondary border gate

On March 20, 2010, the inter-commune traffic route was opened to the "heavenly gate" of the communes of zone 7 of Tay Giang (old). From here, the movement of people in the border area with Laos (Ka Lum district, Se Kong province) became easier.

Former Secretary of Tay Giang District Party Committee (formerly) Bhriu Liec shared that the road to the Vietnam - Laos border has broken the isolation of the localities, and in the near future will contribute to connecting the key economic regions of East - West, from Champasak (Laos) to Da Nang and vice versa.

On April 25, 2013, the Tay Giang - Ka Lum sub-border gate pair was officially opened. Connecting from Ho Chi Minh road to this border gate, the DT606 road axis, over 69.5km long, has been invested in upgrading and expanding with many projects.

In 2016 and 2020, two road projects to the center of A Xan commune, connecting Ch'Om commune to the secondary border gate of Tay Giang district (phase 1 and 2) were implemented with a total investment of more than 300 billion VND.

These completed projects have gradually completed the traffic infrastructure, continuously connecting traffic from Tien Sa port, Da Nang international airport and industrial parks and clusters to Tay Giang secondary border gate.

DT606 route through A Xan commune (now Hung Son commune) has been invested in and renovated. Photo: CONG TU

In order to ensure traffic safety and overcome the consequences of floods, the Department of Construction has allocated resources for regular maintenance and periodic repairs with a budget of tens of billions of VND.

But overall, the DT606 route still has many narrow, winding sections that are often damaged and severely degraded. During the rainy and stormy season, many locations are subject to landslides, causing traffic congestion.

According to statistics from the authorities, the DT606 route is over 69.5km long but has 3 levels of roads including II, V and VI. Of which, level II is an inner-city road, occupying only over 2.1km of the section through the inner city of Tay Giang (old); the level VI section in the mountainous area occupies up to 46.35km.

Not to mention, the connecting routes from the center of Da Nang to the secondary border gate, National Highway 14G, Ho Chi Minh Road with DT606, are still narrow, not ensuring the circulation of heavy trucks and passenger cars with 30 seats or more.

Bumpy Highway 14D

On the morning of August 14, 2021, the opening ceremony of the Nam Giang - Dac Ta Ooc (Se Kong) international border gate pair was held. Previously, on December 22, 2020, the Government issued a resolution on upgrading the main border gate to Nam Giang international border gate.

The road surface of National Highway 14D cannot withstand the load and traffic density of heavy trucks. Photo: CONG TU

Since its inauguration, the Nam Giang international border gate has promoted the development of the border gate system along the entire border between the two countries; opening up new opportunities for economic, trade and tourism cooperation between the key economic region of Central Vietnam and the provinces of Central and Southern Laos and connecting with the southeastern region of Thailand.

Currently, every day there are hundreds of heavy trucks carrying goods from Laos through Nam Giang international border gate.

Also from here, National Highway 14D, the backbone traffic axis on the East-West Economic Corridor 2, has seriously degraded.

With the attention of the Government, on June 4, 2025, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province (old) approved the investment policy for the Project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 14D. The investment objective is to complete the traffic infrastructure, serve people's travel and transport goods on National Highway 14D and connect with Laos through the Nam Giang international border gate.

Total project investment is 4,518 billion VND; of which the source of increased revenue and savings from the central budget is 4,513 billion VND.

Assigned as the investor, the representative of the Quang Nam Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board said that, up to this point, the unit is inviting bids to select a consulting unit to prepare a feasibility study report.

The results will be available within 20 days, at which time the investor will carry out the next procedures in accordance with regulations. Under the direction of the City People's Committee, the investor is making efforts to complete the procedural documents, striving to start construction of this very urgent project in November 2025.

On October 14, 2023, the Prime Minister approved the planning of border gates on the Vietnam - Laos land border for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 in Quang Nam province (now Da Nang).

According to the plan, Tay Giang sub-border gate will complete its infrastructure investment before 2029; modern technical equipment and route DT606 will ensure compliance with the criteria and standards prescribed for land border gate management;

Complete the documents and procedures to request competent authorities to approve upgrading to a main border gate...

Source: https://baodanang.vn/gap-ghenh-duong-len-cua-khau-3296943.html