Skip to main content

Vietnam launches project to integrate the country's ETC systems

As part of a master plan for its highways, Vietnam is pushing ahead with a demonstration project aimed at integrating the country’s electronic toll collection (ETC) systems. Vietnam is making steady progress in introducing ETC systems into the country's expressway network, but many are calling for the country to integrate its three separate communication modes currently in service – active dedicated short range communications (DSRC), passive DSRC and radio frequency identification (RFID). The Director
September 14, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
As part of a master plan for its highways, Vietnam is pushing ahead with a demonstration project aimed at integrating the country’s electronic toll collection (ETC) systems.

Vietnam is making steady progress in introducing ETC systems into the country's expressway network, but many are calling for the country to integrate its three separate communication modes currently in service – active dedicated short range communications (DSRC), passive DSRC and radio frequency identification (RFID).

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN) and Vietnamese Ministry of Transport (MOT) have signed a memorandum of agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Sojitz Corporation and the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank).

The focus of the demonstration project will be on developing a new ETC system which integrates the three existing formats. Data from the new system will be collected from the suburbs of Ho Chi Minh City in the country's south. Based on the project, MHI, Sojitz and VietinBank also aim, with support from DRVN/MOT, to create a second project involving an intelligent traffic system (ITS).

Some two million vehicles are currently registered in Vietnam and new registrations are increasing at a rate of 120,000 to 150,000 each year. In December 2008 the Vietnamese government, in anticipation of the country's shift to a motorised society in the future, formulated a master plan for the nation's expressways. The plan covers 22 routes spanning a total distance of 5,873 kilometres (3,649 miles) and its execution requires a total investment of US$48 billion.

Under the plan, ITS technology is to be introduced to the major expressways in order to enhance their safety and driving comfort in the coming era of motorisation. The plan calls for progressive introduction of traffic control, ETC and other sophisticated systems going forward.

Applying the knowhow they will accumulate from the newly agreed demonstration project, MHI, Sojitz and VietinBank look to make important contributions to the development of Vietnam's road transport networks in the years ahead.

Commenting on the project, a spokesman for DVRN said, “In order to meet the highest demand of traffic drivers and toll collection service users, deploying integrated solution for the three existing formats including DSRC active, DSRC passive and RFID plays an important role.”

Related Content

  • ITS needs data highways
    November 18, 2014
    Transport and traffic data is on the increase but there must be an integrated data highway to derive the maximum ITS benefits, argues Deutsche Telekom. From public transport operators recording increasingly precise and comprehensive data on their vehicle’s position and driving behaviour to local authorities using RFID and video systems to control traffic on their streets and highways, the amount of traffic data is growing rapidly.
  • Delhi-Mumbai national highway to go ETC
    February 21, 2014
    Drivers on the Delhi-Mumbai highway are to benefit from electronic toll collection (ETC) from August this year. According to the highways ministry, ETC using RFID tags will be implemented on toll plazas across the golden quadrilateral (GQ), a highway network connecting many of the major industrial, agricultural and cultural centres of India. There are about 80 toll plazas on the entire GQ. Toll plazas on east-west and north-south corridors would be brought under the scheme by October. To begin with,
  • Russia ramps-up technologies for transport communications
    March 28, 2018
    Covering an area almost as big as the US and Canada combined, Russia is planning to increase transport-related communications to improve road safety and traffic efficiency. Eugene Gerden reports. Russia’s government plans to increase road safety through the use of modern transport communication and the development of the relevant legislative base. Initially, particular attention will be on the introduction of connected cars and Vehicle to Anything (V2X) technologies. Russia has fewer than 60,000
  • Russia ramps-up technologies for transport communications
    March 28, 2018
    Covering an area almost as big as the US and Canada combined, Russia is planning to increase transport-related communications to improve road safety and traffic efficiency. Eugene Gerden reports. Russia’s government plans to increase road safety through the use of modern transport communication and the development of the relevant legislative base. Initially, particular attention will be on the introduction of connected cars and Vehicle to Anything (V2X) technologies. Russia has fewer than 60,000 connect