The toll fee for the highway invested by the State is suitable for the people's ability to pay.

Vehicle owners get more than the fee they pay.

The Government has just issued Decree 130/2024 regulating the collection of tolls for vehicles traveling on expressways owned by the entire people, represented by the State as the owner and directly managed and operated.

The My Thuan - Can Tho Expressway invested by the State has been put into operation.

Accordingly, 5 groups of vehicles must pay fees, divided into two levels. Level 1 applies to completed and standard highways; level 2 applies to highways that do not meet standards, such as those without rest stops, emergency lanes, or service roads.

Toll rates for expressways invested by the State (unit: VND/km)

Explaining this fee, Mr. Dinh Cao Thang, Head of Finance Department, Vietnam Road Administration said: The toll collection level for expressways invested by the State is determined to basically ensure compensation for management costs, organization of toll collection operations, and maintenance of expressways. At the same time, it is approached based on calculating the benefits of expressway users.

The collection level is built on the basis of the law on fees and charges and has deducted related taxes and fees collected, avoiding duplicate collection of fees. The collection level must be lower than the benefits enjoyed by highway users.

Highway usage fees applied to highways that meet technical standards and regulations on highways: equivalent to 70% of the benefits users receive when using the highway (approximately from VND 1,300/vehicle/km to VND 1,500/vehicle/km).

The highway usage fee applies to highways put into operation before January 1, 2025 that do not fully comply with the provisions of the Road Law: equivalent to 50% of the benefits users receive when using the highway (about VND 900/vehicle/km).

Emphasizing that the above fee was researched and built on the basis of calculation and analysis of vehicle owners' benefits, Mr. Thang said: Compared to traveling on parallel national highways, vehicles traveling on the expressway will save 25% of operating costs and 75% of transportation time.

Of which, passenger cars with 30 seats or more enjoy the greatest benefit of 14,132 VND/km; trucks under 2 tons enjoy the lowest benefit of 1,174 VND/km compared to running on the parallel national highway. The average benefit is 2,616 VND/vehicle equivalent (PCU) per km.

"International practice shows that people are usually willing to pay a fee equivalent to 50-70% of the benefits gained when using the highway. The fee ranges from 1,300 - 5,200 VND/km for each group of vehicles, equivalent to 70% of the benefits gained when using the highway," Mr. Thang said.

The state collects fees to cover costs, not for profit.

Compared with the tolls of highways invested in the form of BOT, Mr. Thang said that the tolls of highways invested by the State are lower than those of BOT enterprises.

Among the projects invested by the state, the Cao Bo - Mai Son, Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet and My Thuan - Can Tho expressways have the same scale and standards as the expressways invested by BOT enterprises such as Dien Chau - Bai Vot, Nha Trang - Cam Lam, Cam Lam - Vinh Hao. The toll rates for BOT projects are currently applied from 1,700 - 6,400 VND/km.

The specific comparison fees are as follows (unit VND/km):

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said that the highway tolls set by the State are calculated based on many factors such as: Ensuring harmonious vehicle distribution between existing roads and highways, according to regulations on fees and charges, and especially being suitable to the payment capacity of people and businesses.

According to Mr. Quyen, the State investing in expressways does not have to pay interest on bank loans. More importantly, the State does not calculate profits in investment. The expressway tolls invested by the State are lower than the expressway tolls invested in the form of BOT, which is appropriate and does not have much impact on the transportation costs of enterprises.

Mr. Bui Quang Thai, Director of Vietnam Road Administration, said that the fee has been carefully calculated and analyzed, ensuring the harmony of interests of the State, people and businesses.

According to Mr. Thai, the State collects highway tolls not for profit but to offset management, operation, maintenance costs, project financial plans and reinvestment in developing new highways. The toll rates have been carefully studied by management agencies to avoid impacting the CPI and logistics costs.

12 state-invested expressways that have been put into operation are expected to collect tolls, including: Kim Thanh - Lao Cai, Hanoi - Thai Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong, Cao Bo - Mai Son, Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Cam Lo - La Son, La Son - Hoa Lien, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet, Phan Thiet - Dau Giay and My Thuan - Can Tho.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/muc-phi-cao-toc-do-nha-nuoc-dau-tu-phu-hop-voi-kha-nang-chi-tra-cua-nguoi-dan-192241018000635981.htm