Hanoi to complete $320M ring road in 2026 after years of delay

In a report submitted to the municipal People's Council on Jan. 5, the city said Ring Road 2.5 is being implemented under an emergency investment order to ease chronic traffic congestion and support major national events. The move follows years of delays that left the route partially unfinished.

Under the emergency mechanism, Hanoi will prioritize construction of three missing sections: Dich Vong New Urban Area–Duong Dinh Nghe, Vu Pham Ham–Tran Duy Hung, and Nguy Nhu Kon Tum–Nguyen Trai. Most of the funding will be used for land acquisition and site clearance.

Ring Road 2.5 stretches nearly 19.64 km, running from the Ciputra New Urban Area to the interchange with Ring Road 3 near Thanh Tri Bridge, with a planned width of 40–50 meters. So far, five of the 13 sections, totaling more than 11 km, have been completed and opened to traffic, while another five sections covering over 6 km are under construction. The final three sections are the focus of the emergency order.

City authorities said Ring Road 2.5 plays a critical role in Hanoi's transport network by redistributing traffic and reducing pressure on the heavily congested Ring Roads 2 and 3. Officials are now targeting completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Project investors are currently conducting surveys and preparing designs and cost estimates. Local authorities are also holding public consultations, carrying out preliminary land inventories and drafting plans to relocate graves in line with local customs a week before the Lunar New Year, which will begin on Feb. 17.

According to Hanoi's master plan, the capital will have seven ring roads totaling about 285 km. While Ring Roads 2 and 3 are largely complete, several sections remain unfinished. Ring Road 1 is pushing ahead with land clearance on the Hoang Cau–Voi Phuc section, with technical opening expected in January 2026. Ring Roads 2.5, 3.5, and 4 are under construction, while Ring Road 5 is expected to break ground in 2026.

In addition to Ring Road 2.5, Hanoi has used emergency orders for two other transport projects: the renovation and widening of Hung Vuong Street between Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc, now completed and in use, and the traffic reorganization project at the Phap Van–Nuoc Ngam Bus Station–Ngo 15 Ngoc Hoi junction, which is about 70% complete.