The Government has assigned authorities of northern mountainous Dien Bien province to implement the Son La–Dien Bien–Tay Trang International Border Gate expressway project, phase one.

The expressway is part of a key transport corridor connecting Hanoi with the country's northwestern region. The entire Son La–Dien Bien–Tay Trang section is about 155 km long and is currently undergoing investment planning, with 75.3 km running through Dien Bien Province.

In the first phase, a 48.3 km section extending to Muong Thanh ward will be built, with total investment estimated at about VND23.25 trillion ($887 million). The second phase will extend the route by another 27 km to Tay Trang International Border Gate, requiring about VND8.7 trillion ($332 million).

The expressway will have a 22-metre-wide roadbed with four lanes, a median strip, safety shoulders and continuous emergency stopping lanes, designed for speeds of up to 80 km/h.