Vietnam to build second national highway HANOI - The first phase of a project to build the Ho Chi Minh National Highway, the second north-south road, will commence in the first quarter of this year under Decision 18/2000/QD-TTg signed by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on February 3. The Ho Chi Minh National Highway will begin from Hoa Lac in Son Tay township of Ha Tay province, west of Hanoi, and end in Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Phuoc Cross Road through the historic path known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which was used for decades by freedom fighters along the western border of the country. Under a Ministry of Transport and Communication plan approved by the Prime Minister, 5.300 trillion dong (US$378.5 million) will be needed for the 1,070km first phase of the project, which is due to be ready in 2003. Investment capital will be met by the State budget and official development assistance sources. The design of the new road will be based on last year's highest flood levels to ensure traffic flow all year round. The road, to be named after the late President Ho Chi Minh, will follow the roads and trails of the wartime trail along the Truong Son mountain range, then proceed through the Central Highlands. Construction of the lengendary trail began on May 19, 1959, the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. From the first footpath crossing the mountain range to the victorious Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975, this strategic road developed into a network of five axial roads running along the Truong Son range on its eastern and western flanks and 21 lateral roads leading to major battle fronts. Vietnam news Agency - February 11, 2000.