With the Government’s intention of boosting the conditions for Thai Nguyen province and push it to become an economic, cultural, and educational center for the northern mountainous region, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged the provincial authority and relevant agencies to speed up the construction of the 61-km Hanoi – Thai Nguyen Highway and comply with the targeted completion that is set this year. Once completed, it would connect the region with Noi Bai International airport and invite foreign investments. In addition to reducing the load for the existing Highway No 3, it would have great significance for economic development for the mountainous Northern provinces.

The call for speeding up the work also came in the wake of serious overloading and deterioration of the existing Highway. Apart from the large traffic density in QL3 old route, reports of traffic accidents have also increased in number.

The project has already consumed 42 months of construction. And though work presently appears in full speed, only 58 per cent of the entire highway is completed. Though approved in 2009, serious delays over the last 3 years were attributed to land acquisition issues, mainly on the compensation and resettlement for people in affected areas. Up to 21 contractors were replaced due to failure to ensure the scheme's progress. Recently, Transport Minister Dinh La Thang inspected the project and reported 98% completion on the land clearance. The final delays were brought about several affected households who refused to move as they were not satisfied with the compensation rate. Should they also move at the soonest time, around six months will also be needed to reconsolidate the weak land.

The upcoming wet season is another foreseen problem as it would pose additional difficulties in keeping up with work on the given timeline. The ministry recognizes the need to take drastic measures to ensure the project's construction pace is strictly followed. With the commitment to hit deadline, the director of the Project Management Board emphasized that any contractor who fails to keep up with the speed will be replaced.

The project cost is said to be at VND10 trillion (US$477 million), where VND5.3 trillion ($255 million) was allocated for construction, VND2.37 trillion ($113 million) was spent for land clearance and compensation, while the remaining budget was used for consultation.

The highway is seen as an important project in the country's strategy to develop its transport and communications network by 2020. Once it is in place, authorities are also set to review additional options for developing industry and services so that they can make full use of the opportunities the new highway will offer.