Border bridge Viet Nam, China to complete in November

These days, the Red River is surging, carrying with it the aspirations of the Northwestern border region. At the construction site of the road bridge project across the Red River connecting the border areas of Bat Xat (Lao Cai, Vietnam) and Ba Sai (Yunnan, China), work is progressing at a highly intensive pace.

Despite facing numerous challenges, from harsh weather to complex geology, hundreds of workers on both sides of the bridge remain on site day and night, determined to complete the bridge connection by November.

The Bat Xat - Ba Sai road bridge project was officially launched on March 31, 2025, with a total investment of approximately VND 1.5 trillion, including around VND 300 billion for the construction works on the Vietnamese side. Designed as a low-pylon cable-stayed bridge, the structure will be 420 m long and 35.3 m wide, featuring six lanes for two-way traffic and meeting Grade I road load standards.

As a key piece of infrastructure under the plan to develop a cross-border economic cooperation zone, the project places significant pressure on contractors to maintain the construction schedule. Speaking to us at the site, Mr. Tran Hung Lam, Director of the Management Board for the Bat Xat - Ba Sai Border Bridge Project on the Vietnamese side, said: “This is a nationally important project aimed at strengthening trade connectivity between Vietnam and China.”

Therefore, immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony, the Trung Chinh - Waterway Construction Corporation No. 1 Joint Venture mobilized maximum manpower, along with its most advanced machinery and equipment.

Construction has faced numerous challenges due to unfavorable geological conditions at the riverbank tower pier (Pier T8), which were more difficult than initially anticipated. Located entirely beneath the river, Pier T8 is constantly affected by rising water levels. In November 2025 alone, rising water levels in the Red River flooded the entire construction area around the pier three times. Through persistent efforts and flexible engineering solutions, the contractor ultimately completed the most complex bored-pile work on the project.

The challenges did not stop there. Climate change has brought periods of extreme heat, with temperatures at the construction site sometimes exceeding 40°C. To cope with the conditions, the contractor adjusted working hours accordingly. “We gave workers longer staggered breaks around midday to protect their health, while closely monitoring weather conditions to maintain a continuous construction pace and prevent disruptions to the work,” the project representative said.

To date, having overcome the initial difficulties, the project has recorded encouraging progress. On the Vietnamese side, all substructure works have been completed, including Abutment M2 and Piers T9 and T8. For the superstructure, the 40 m falsework-cast girder segment and K0, K1, K2 and K3 segments have been completed, while concreting of the K4 segment is currently underway. Overall, the completed work is estimated at approximately 54% of the contract volume.

The biggest challenge at this stage is constructing 10 cantilevered girder segments using a mobile formwork system at a height of 20 m. Each girder segment requires up to 300 m³ of concrete and approximately 60 tonnes of intricately arranged steel cables. As a result, a tight construction schedule has been set: 12 days for each segment without stay cables and 14 days for each segment with stay cables.

According to the latest update, the Chinese side has completed the K5 segment and is currently tensioning the K4 stay cables, putting it approximately 20 days ahead of the Vietnamese side.

Mr. Tran Hung Lam, Director of the Management Board for the Bat Xat - Ba Sai Border Bridge, said: “As we enter the flood season, we have proactively raised and secured our equipment to prevent disruptions caused by strong currents. Most of the work is now being carried out at height, so water levels in the river no longer affect construction. We are determined to stay on schedule and complete the K14 girder segment by the end of November, allowing the Chinese side to proceed with closing the central span.”

The Bat Xat - Ba Sai Bridge carries expectations for a new era of trade. Once completed, the bridge will open an additional strategic road transport route along the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor, significantly easing pressure on existing border gates and reducing logistics costs for businesses.

During a recent field inspection, Mr. Duong Quoc Huy, Secretary of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee, said the bridge is one of the key external transport infrastructure projects between the two border localities and is expected to become a new symbol of Viet Nam - China friendship. It will also create fresh momentum for expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well as cultural exchanges, between Lao Cai Province and Yunnan Province.

Looking further ahead, the project is expected to strengthen connectivity between Viet Nam and markets in southwestern China, thereby promoting economic linkages across Southeast Asia and South Asia.

The Secretary of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee called on contractors, construction units, and relevant authorities on the Chinese side to maintain close coordination with Lao Cai authorities throughout the project's implementation. He urged all parties to mobilize resources and accelerate construction of project components in line with the planned schedule, promptly address any difficulties and obstacles that arise during implementation, and ensure the project’s quality, technical safety and timely completion.

$ 1 = VND 26,410 - Source: Vietcombank.