It will run from Đoan Hùng to Rạch Sỏi in the Mekong Delta, following a similar route to the historic Ho Chi Minh Highway.

Between Hà Tĩnh and Da Nang, the narrowest part of Vietnam, it will be concurrent with the North–South Expressway.

[1][2] The section Lộ Tẻ - Rạch Sỏi was completed in January 2021, however only as a 2x2 lane trunk road, pending future upgrade to full expressway standard.

[3][4] The section was constructed at a cost of VND 6,355 billion (US$270 million), partially financed by the Korean government through a development loan.

The expressway has a total length of about 1,205 km, divided into 16 sections, passing through 23 provinces and cities: Tuyên Quang, Phú Thọ, Hanoi, Hòa Bình, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Hà Tĩnh, Quang Binh, Quảng Trị, Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Kien Giang.