A geographical simulation of impacts of Vientiane-Hanoi expressway

Abstract

In this paper, we estimated the economic impacts of the proposed and some alternative routes of Vientiane-Hanoi Expressway (VHE), using a computational general equilibrium model based on spatial economics. The estimation results show that overall international positive impact depends more on whether it forms a cross-border expressway connection between the capitals of Vietnam and Thailand. The proximity of the expressway to Laos’s capital is nevertheless critical to economic benefits expected within Laos.