Viet Nam: Central Region Transport Networks Improvement Sector Project

The main mode for moving goods and people in the central region of Viet Nam is by road. Although the network of national roads between regions and provinces is well developed, provincial and district roads within each province were sparse and quality was poor. The lack of all-weather provincial and district roads isolated poor rural communities from provincial and national markets. Bus and truck operators were reluctant to provide services on these poor quality roads, thus, people’s access to job opportunities, markets, schools, and health facilities was restricted. About half of all roads were in poor condition. Road safety was also a serious and growing problem. In the central region, 16 provinces reported 3,065 road deaths in 2003.

This report validates the completion report’s assessment of the project, which aimed to induce more efficient and cost-effective movement of passengers and goods in the central region’s rural areas of Viet Nam. IED overall assessment: Successful.