'Sprint' to start construction of Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line by the end of 2025

The Railway Project Management Board (Ministry of Construction) is speeding up preparations for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project, with the goal of starting construction on December 19, 2025.

This is one of the strategic infrastructure routes, connecting the Northern midlands and mountainous areas with the plains and Hai Phong seaport, creating an important inter-regional transport axis for the Northern economy .

Opening the Northern strategic transport axis

According to the Railway Project Management Board, the project is divided into 9 components, of which the two largest components are building infrastructure connecting stations and station squares (component project 1, domestic capital) and building the main railway section (component project 2, ODA loan capital combined with domestic capital).

The Ministry of Construction is accelerating the implementation of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong Railway Project (Project), aiming to start construction of the infrastructure component project connecting the station and the station square on December 19, 2025 (Illustration photo: AI created).

For component 1, the Ministry of Construction aims to complete the Feasibility Study Report (FSR) by October 2025, and start construction on December 19, 2025.

The consulting unit has basically completed the survey, determined the route direction, scale and design plan for the access roads to 29 stations along the entire route. The Ministry of Construction and the Railway Project Management Board are coordinating with local construction departments to directly inspect the site to review and provide comments to complete the design documents.

Along with that, many legal procedures were accelerated such as: appraisal of environmental impact assessment reports, preparation of dossiers for conversion of forest use purposes, consultation with localities and community consultation (completed in 4/6 localities).

However, the preparation of the Technical Research Report still faces many difficulties because the route, elevation and scope of the station square depend on the detailed research results of the consultant.

In particular, the section through Hanoi (with Bac Hong, Dong Anh, Yen Thuong, Kim Son stations) is complicated in terms of connection, while the section through Hai Phong ( Hai Duong , Nam Hai Phong) has not yet had a unified location.

In order to avoid delays, the Railway Project Management Board has implemented technical design in parallel with the preparation of the Technical Research Report. Consulting packages for survey, design and technical review have been signed, expected to be completed in November 2025.

Regarding site clearance, localities and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) are simultaneously implementing. The Ministry of Construction has allocated more than VND 1,908 billion to 4 localities: Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong to serve site clearance.

The Ministry of Finance has also provided guidance on capital advance procedures. Up to now, localities are speeding up disbursement and handover of land.

At the same time as the steps to construct component project 1, the Ministry of Construction is implementing tasks, including preparing a technical research report for component project 2 - Construction of the railway on the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong route (Illustration photo: AI created).

Determined to be on time

In parallel, component project 2 - construction of the main railway section is also being urgently implemented.

According to the Railway Project Management Board, up to now, 4 domestic consulting packages have been deployed to prepare the Technical Research Report, and one appraisal package will be deployed after the Chinese consultant hands over the complete documents.

This Research and Development Report is funded by China, with the No. 4 Railway Survey and Design Institute (China) as the main consultant from June 17, 2025.

Currently, Institute 4 has mobilized more than 100 engineers, experts, and modern machinery and equipment to Vietnam to coordinate with relevant units to survey terrain, geology, hydrology, material mines and waste dumps.

Up to now, Institute 4 has formed a preliminary route plan and coordinated with the Ministry of Construction to work with localities along the route such as Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hung Yen, and Hai Phong to unify the route direction and station locations.

Of which, Lao Cai and Hung Yen have had written consent, while Phu Tho and Hai Phong are being asked to soon have official opinions.

For Hanoi and Bac Ninh, two areas with complex planning, the Railway Project Management Board and Institute 4 are continuing to work with the Department of Construction and the Department of Planning and Architecture to finalize the connection plan.

At the same time, the Ministry of Construction has directed investors to prepare documents and estimates for consulting packages for survey, technical design and appraisal, and be ready to select contractors as soon as the Chinese side introduces a list of consultants.

The two sides are also actively discussing to speed up some contents in the stage of preparing the Technical Research Report, and at the same time, prepare early for the loan agreement.

"The Ministry of Construction is working closely with the Chinese side to negotiate and sign a loan agreement immediately after the feasibility study report is approved. The two sides will also agree on a plan to connect the railway and build a bridge across the border, and start negotiating a bilateral agreement in the near future," said a representative of the Railway Project Management Board.

With a series of tasks being carried out in parallel, from surveying, reporting, technical design to site clearance and capital agreement negotiations, the Ministry of Construction and the Railway Project Management Board are showing their determination to "sprint" to ensure the commencement of construction of the entire route by the end of 2025.

When completed, the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway will not only open a seamless international freight route from Lao Cai border gate to Hai Phong seaport, but also become a new vital traffic axis, promoting regional connectivity and sustainable economic development in the Northern region.

The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project was approved by the National Assembly in Resolution 187/2025, with the starting point at the rail connection across the border of Lao Cai province and the end point at Lach Huyen station (Hai Phong). The main line is about 391 km long, with 28 km of branch lines, passing through 6 localities including Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and Hai Phong.

The project is to build a single-track, 1,435 mm gauge electrified railway line, transporting both passengers and goods. The design speed is 160 km/h for the main section from the new Lao Cai station to Nam Hai Phong station, 120 km/h through the Hanoi hub area and 80 km/h for the remaining sections.

The total preliminary investment is over VND203,000 billion (equivalent to USD8.37 billion). Phase 1 will invest in single-track and site clearance on a double-track scale; Phase 2 will complete the double-track after 2050.

baoxaydung.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chay-nuoc-rut-khoi-cong-tuyen-duong-sat-lao-cai-ha-noi-hai-phong-cuoi-nam-2025-post884304.html