The expanded road transport network with the building of expressways in Vietnam has contributed to the country’s noted economic growth over the past 15 years, heard a forum in central Khanh Hoa province on September 28.

The forum on road traffic safety in Vietnam was jointly held by the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for National Defence and Security, the NA Office, and Hanns Seidel Foundation.

The forum on road traffic safety in Vietnam was jointly held by the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for National Defence and Security, the NA Office, and Hanns Seidel Foundation.

The participants reviewed Vietnam’s road transport policies and planning schemes, and scientific-technological applications in the sector.

According to a World Bank expert, Vietnam expanded its road transport network from more than 223,000 km in 2004 to some 668,000 km in 2018, including more than 900 km of expressways.

The expert, however, pointed to limitations in the system such as congestions on belt roads and international gateways, overloaded vehicles and limited budget for regular maintenance, among others.

The forum also looked into environmental pollution and the impact of climate change in road transport, and road transport development in relations with waterway and air transport.