The largest cable-stay bridge in Southeast Asia, the country’s most modern
avenue, the highest building in HCM City, the first express way for cars, etc.
are the most impressive construction works in 2010.

The longest and most
modern avenue in Vietnam

Thang Long avenue was inaugurated during Hanoi’s 1000^th anniversary. Thang
Long is the first urban expressway that has been designed and built entirely by
local experts and contractors. The road, measuring 30 km in length and 140 m in
width, cost over VND7.5 trillion.

The avenue connects the heart of Hanoi
with satellite urban areas such as Xuan Mai, Mieu Mon and Son Tay, and tourist
attractions including Ba Vi, Suoi Hai, and the Vietnam Ethnic
Cultural Village.
With one end at Ho Chi Minh
National Highway, it also links Hanoi with other provinces. In particular,
Thang Long Avenue is expected to facilitate the development of the Lang-Hoa Lac
Hi-Tech Park, one of the country’s largest scientific and technological
centers.

According to the city government, the city had to clear more
than 500 hectares of land and relocate over 8,000 families and some state
agencies and organizations along the road.

The longest
cable-stay bridge in Southeast Asia

This cable-stayed bridge crosses over the Hau River, the
largest distributary of the Mekong River, in the city of Can Tho in southern
Vietnam. The bridge is 2.75 kilometers long. It has a 6-lane carriageway
measuring 23 meters in width, with 4 lanes for traffic and two pedestrian
lanes. It has a clearance of 39 meters, which will allow large ships to pass underneath
the bridge. The bridge was inaugurated on April 24, 2010.

The bridge is currently the longest main span cable-stayed
bridge in Southeast Asia. The cost of
construction is estimated to be VND4.842 trillion (approximately $342.6
million), making it the most expensive bridge in Vietnam.

The first express
highway for cars

The HCM City – Trung Luong, which connects HCM City
with My Tho City in Tien Giang Province,
is the first highway for cars in Vietnam.

The highway is 62 km long with eight lanes and a speed limit
of 120km per hour. Total investment in the project is over VND9.88 trillion
(US$535 million) from the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam
(BIDV).

Thanks to the highway, vehicles can travel from HCM City
to Tieng Giang (60km) within 45 minutes.

Vietnam’s widest bridge

Vinh Tuy is one of seven bridges across the Red River in Hanoi. The construction of
this 5.8km long and 19.25m wide bridge with four lanes began in 2005 to welcome
the 1000th anniversary of Hanoi. The bridge has some branches linking with the
regional transport network.

The first phase of the 5.8 km bridge with a 3.7
km-river-spanning section and a cross-cut of 19.25m was constructed at a cost
of VND3.6 billion (roughly $183.6 million).

The work was completely designed and built by Vietnamese
engineers and workers. In the second phase, the bridge will be expanded to the
width of 38m, to become the widest bridge in Vietnam. The second phase will
begin next year.

The highest building
in HCM City

Bitexco
Financial Tower
is 262 meters tall with 68 floors including six floors of commercial area (more
than 8,000 square meters) and a grade A office block with an area of 37,000
square meters.

In addition, more than 600 square meters are used for
cuisine on the 48th floor and 49th floor restaurant area. The first helicopter
pad in Vietnam
was built on the 50th floor and an observatory in the 47th floor can see the
city landscape.

This is the highest building in HCM
City and the second highest work in Vietnam.
Bitexco Group spent US$270 million for this project.

The most beautiful
museum in Vietnam

The Hanoi Museum, designed by GMP-International
GmbH–Inroslackner AG Joint-Venture, Germany, to welcome the 1000th Anniversary
of Thang Long–Hanoi, was opened on the October 6.

The construction of the Hanoi Museum was started by Vietnam
Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation (VINACONEX) on May 19,
2008, the birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh. The project that covers more
than 53,000 square meters and cost VND2,300 billion is considered a key
cultural symbol of Hanoi.

Designed as an upside-down pyramid to look like a lotus at
night, the Hanoi Museum showcases over 50,000 artifacts
on display in a total area of nearly 54,000 square meters. It shows artifacts
from Hanoi’s 1000-year history and displays the history, culture, heritage, and
architecture that has blossomed in this city.

PV