Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway Now Fully Open: Guide

Getting from Can Tho or My Tho to Vung Tau without crawling through central Ho Chi Minh City is something many Delta families have waited for, and the new link now makes it possible.

The Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway opened along its whole route on 1 October 2026, after twelve years of construction. For travellers from the Mekong Delta, it cuts out the trip through central Ho Chi Minh City. Here is what to know before you use it.

Photo: Long Thanh bridge on the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh expressway by Prenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Key facts

• The 58 km expressway opened along its entire route at midnight on 1 October 2026, after 12 years of construction (Tuoi Tre News).
• It starts at an interchange with the HCMC-Trung Luong Expressway and Ring Road 3, crosses southern Ho Chi Minh City and ends at National Highway 51 in Dong Nai (VnExpress International).
• About 30 km opened earlier, in January 2025; the remaining 27 km includes the Phuoc Khanh and Binh Khanh bridges (DTiNews).
• It is expected to save about an hour for travellers from southwestern provinces heading to National Highway 51, Long Thanh airport, Cai Mep-Thi Vai and Vung Tau.

Who benefits

Travellers coming from Can Tho, My Tho or Ben Tre who want to reach Dong Nai, Long Thanh airport or Vung Tau without crossing central Ho Chi Minh City.

Planning tips

1. Ask your driver which interchange is closest to your hotel.
2. Allow extra time during the first weeks, as traffic patterns settle.
3. Combine with our one-way transfers for airport or Vung Tau trips.

Practical scenario

A group travelling from Can Tho to Vung Tau can now plan around the new expressway instead of crossing the city. In the first weeks, expect curious traffic and some uncertainty at interchanges, so keep a buffer of thirty to sixty minutes for flights. Ask the driver to compare the new route with the old one for your travel date.

Tip from Car Rental Vietnam: For the first few weeks, ask the driver to check conditions on the new link on the morning you travel; newly opened roads can be unexpectedly busy.

Frequently asked questions

How long is it?

The expressway is 58 km long.

Who benefits most?

Travellers from the Mekong Delta heading east.

Should I leave extra time?

Yes, in the first weeks while traffic patterns settle.

Using the new link on a Delta trip

Check the exits for your start and end points before leaving and set the route in your map app. Plan a stop at a service area.

Keep the ETC tag active and allow time for roadworks on connecting roads.

See Mekong Delta by expressway and ETC guide.

Quick answers

Does it avoid central HCMC? Yes, it bypasses the centre.

Is it tolled? Yes, by ETC.