Minh Duc EC "Overcomes All Weather Challenges," Delivering the Slope Reinforcement Item of the Sofitel Sapa Project on Schedule
In just 7 months from the commencement date, Minh Duc Traffic Engineering Joint Stock Company (Minh Duc EC) has successfully completed the slope reinforcement for two key blocks of the Sofitel Sapa Hotel & Residences project. Reaching the finish line on schedule at one of Sapa’s most luxurious resort developments not only affirms the company's outstanding construction capabilities but also demonstrates its resilience in facing severe geological and highland weather challenges.
The reinforcement revetment item for Block 9 is undergoing its final stages of completion.
Located along Provincial Road 152 (Sapa), the slope reinforcement item serves as the "backbone" work to ensure stability and safety for the entire architectural complex above. With a contract value of 43 billion VND, Minh Duc EC focused on executing specialized techniques at Block 8 and Block 9, including soil nailing, steel mesh fabrication, and slope shotcreting.
Mr. Le Van Duong, the Project Site Manager, delivers a speech at the Acceptance and Handover Ceremony for the Block 9 Reinforcement Revetment Item.
At the construction site, the engineering team faced a "tough problem" as the slope features a height differential of tens of meters, with geological conditions constantly shifting between weak soil layers and mixed boulders. Mr. Le Van Duong, the Project Site Manager, shared: “The geology in Sapa is highly unpredictable. At many locations, risks of landslides appeared immediately after the slope excavation, requiring our technical team to monitor the site 24/7 to deploy instant handling measures.”
To conquer the vertical slopes, Minh Duc EC applied a rigorous technical control workflow. The unit implemented staged slope excavation to maintain natural stability, combined with installing soil nail systems and high-pressure grout injection. The critical technical point lay in closely monitoring the concrete strength. As soon as the concrete reached the R7 threshold, the nailing system was tensioned to its design force before proceeding with the final shotcrete layer.
Moreover, difficulties mounted as the site was frequently shrouded in dense fog and drizzle, with temperatures occasionally dropping down to 0 - 5°C. Traffic restrictions on tourism routes during weekends also caused disruptions to the supply chain of materials and ready-mix concrete.
Faced with unfavorable weather and geological constraints, the Project Management Board consistently maintained a flexible approach to resource coordination, making the most of favorable weather windows to sustain an uninterrupted construction rhythm.
The Head of the Supervision Consultant Team (Apave Company) delivers a speech at the Acceptance and Handover Ceremony for the Block 9 Reinforcement Revetment Item.
The professionalism and strict discipline maintained on-site received high appreciation from partners. The Head of the Supervision Consultant Team (Apave Company) affirmed: “Every stage, from technical execution to occupational safety, was strictly controlled, ensuring that Block 9 fully met the requirements for acceptance and immediate deployment upon handover.”
Sharing this viewpoint, Mr. Phan Van Hieu, Project Management Specialist (representing the Client), also highly evaluated Minh Duc EC's scientific organization of construction and its rapid response capability to unforeseen site conditions.
The successful handover of Block 8 and Block 9 exactly as committed after 7 months of high-speed construction serves as a clear testament to the resource management and execution capacity of the Minh Duc EC team. The solid embankments at Sofitel Sapa are not only the fruit of resilience but also a firm confirmation of a reputable contractor's position, always ready to accompany clients in creating world-class and sustainable projects across the nation.