North-South high-speed railway construction to start in December 2026

The Government requested ministries, branches and localities to urgently complete site clearance and necessary conditions to ensure the commencement of the North-South high-speed railway project in December 2026.

Preliminary design plan of the North-South high-speed railway project.

The Government Office issued Notice No. 335/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at the meeting on the compensation, support, and resettlement (land clearance) project for the high-speed railway on the North-South axis.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Construction , ministries, branches, localities, agencies and units in preparing for investment, reviewing planning, preliminary design, determining land use needs and site clearance plans for the North-South high-speed railway project; in which, he commended the positivity and proactiveness of 5 localities (Binh Thuan, Phu Yen, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh) and Vietnam Electricity Group.

However, according to the report of the Ministry of Construction, progress is still generally slow and uneven among localities; many contents are still confusing in implementation organization, especially coordination between levels and sectors and resolving problems related to planning, legality, finance and decentralization of responsibilities of local authorities.

Ensure full conditions for project commencement in December 2026

This is a project of special national significance, a driving force for socio-economic development, ensuring national security and defense. It requires ministries, branches and localities to clearly define responsibilities, promote the spirit of initiative and creativity, promptly implement assigned tasks, and ensure full conditions for project commencement in December 2026 as required by the Government in Resolution No. 106/NQ-CP dated April 23, 2025.

In the immediate future, focus on completing procedures related to site clearance and resettlement; select a number of important locations (stations, convenient sections) to organize groundbreaking ceremonies, launch resettlement areas to serve the site clearance work of the Project on August 19, 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.

The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Construction to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of National Defense and localities to review the entire route, zoning plans, and preliminary designs, especially areas where the route passes through natural forests, conservation areas, historical and cultural relics, or areas related to national defense and security.

Organize a working group to work directly with each locality to support in resolving difficulties in planning, site clearance and resettlement. Compile a list of resettlement areas that can start construction on August 19, 2025 to report to the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Finance shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Construction to guide the People's Committees of provinces and cities to carry out investment procedures for site clearance and resettlement as an independent project using the central budget; guide localities to proactively advance capital or support capital advances or propose reasonable budget adjustment plans for localities with difficulties to ensure progress.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment guides localities in implementing compensation, support, and resettlement; and converting forest land and rice land according to regulations and special mechanisms approved by the National Assembly.

Vietnam Electricity Group develops a plan to report to the Prime Minister and proactively implements the relocation of power projects with voltages of 110KV or higher to ensure progress.

Establish a Provincial Steering Committee before July 5, 2025

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that localities with routes passing through urgently establish a provincial-level Steering Committee directly commanded by the Secretary of the Provincial/Municipal Party Committee, to be completed before July 5, 2025. Focus on directing and taking responsibility before the Government for the implementation of project site clearance work to ensure progress, absolutely not delegating all responsibilities to communes/wards.

Urgently complete land inventory, develop compensation and resettlement plans, and approve them according to authority; proactively allocate local budget funds to carry out compensation, support, and resettlement work...

In case the locality has difficulty in capital, it must urgently send the capital demand to the Ministry of Finance for synthesis and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Localities must proactively review/adjust the planning of the area surrounding the station, orient the development of the TOD model, integrate with the existing urban transport system; strengthen the synchronous connection between high-speed railway and other types of transport; arrange space for service, trade, logistics and urban development in the areas surrounding the stations to effectively exploit land funds, develop the whole region, especially Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and major cities.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chot-thoi-diem-khoi-cong-duong-sat-cao-toc-bac-nam-vao-thang-12-2026-253540.htm