Route planning and design work started in January 1998 by a joint venture between Nippon Koei Company Limited Japan and Louis Berger International Inc., USA with the Vietnamese Transport Engineering Design Incorporated (TEDI) providing consultation on the project.

The southern section (4 km (2.49 mi)) was constructed by a Vietnam–Japan joint venture between the Japanese Hazama Corporation and their Vietnamese partners, Cienco 6.

The tunnels have lighting, fire alarms, communication, water supply and treatment, ventilation fans, and radio broadcast systems.

The tunnel subsequently has received an award for quality by the American Construction Management Association.

The tunnel reduces the distance between Đà Nẵng and Huế by 20 km (12 mi) and saves between 30 minutes and an hour on traveling times over the old Hải Vân Pass route.