Witnesses to history and expectations for the future.

The investment project for the standard-gauge railway line from Lao Cai to Hanoi and Hai Phong marks a strategic turning point for the development of transportation infrastructure and the economy of the Northern Midlands and mountainous region. The project provides a strong impetus for Lao Cai to realize its goal of becoming a growth pole and a center for international economic trade connections.

Báo Lào Cai•21/10/2025

Centenary Railway Line

The natural disaster of heavy rain and flooding caused by Typhoon No. 3 in 2024 severely damaged road infrastructure. Although temporary repairs have been made, domestic and international transport routes have not yet returned to normal operation, reducing the capacity for transporting goods to and from Lao Cai. In this situation, the railway has become an important alternative means of transport to alleviate pressure on road transport. Mr. Ngo Vu Quang, Head of Lao Cai Railway Station, said: “Since the temporary suspension of trains due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the railway industry has not had to suspend train services for such a long period. However, after this ordeal, we are even more confident that the railway industry is always capable of overcoming all difficulties and affirming its role.” According to Mr. Quang, the role and mission of the railway industry are even more clearly affirmed by its historical foundation of over a hundred years, especially on the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line.

Built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the railway line connecting Lao Cai, the border gateway with China, to Hanoi and then to Hai Phong port opened up a strategically important trade corridor. At the time, the line not only served the needs of resource exploitation and freight transport but also connected the economic and political centers of the Northern region with key seaports, contributing to the promotion of goods circulation, human exchange, and cultural exchange.

During the resistance wars against France and the United States, the railway line was repeatedly targeted by fierce attacks, but it also served as a vital supply line, transporting troops and materials for the national liberation struggle. After peace was restored, the line continued to play a crucial role in economic recovery, infrastructure reconstruction, and bringing people's lives back to normal.

Along the railway line, stations, makeshift markets, and supporting industries have sprung up. From traders transporting agricultural products and restaurants serving passengers to logistics services, the railway has created jobs, connected markets for local products, and contributed to shaping the cultural and social lives of many generations. The line also preserves countless everyday stories, night trains filled with memories, and even wartime sacrifices – all contributing to its enduring spiritual value.

The railway line creates jobs, connects markets for local products, and contributes to shaping the cultural and social lives of many generations.

After decades of operation, traditional railway lines have revealed limitations due to deteriorating infrastructure in many sections, outdated locomotives and equipment, and transport capacity that has not met the new demands of the market. Strong competition from road transport with its high flexibility has caused railways to gradually lose market share. Given the demands of development, modernizing transport infrastructure is essential to enhance competitiveness, reduce logistics costs, and contribute to sustainable development.

After decades of operation, the traditional railway line has revealed its limitations.

Standard gauge railway project - an opportunity for Lao Cai to make a breakthrough.

One of the highlights of railway infrastructure development is the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line construction project, whose investment policy was approved by Resolution No. 187/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025. The project has a total main line length of 390.9 km, starting at the border crossing point (Lao Cai province) and ending at Lach Huyen Station (Hai Phong city); the length of the branch lines is approximately 27.9 km; the total investment capital is VND 203,231 billion, equivalent to USD 8.37 billion, with the goal of completion no later than 2030.

The project is strategically significant in forming a railway transport network in the North, running along the East-West corridor, connecting the Northwest region with the delta and the port of Hai Phong - one of Vietnam's largest maritime centers. At the same time, it connects railway transport with China, directly to Southwest China - a region with over 500 million people and experiencing rapid development. From there, it will further connect with railways in other Asian and European countries, creating strong impetus for development, generating new opportunities for growth, and accelerating urban, industrial, tourism, and service development in localities along the corridor.

For Lao Cai province, the project's implementation represents a historic opportunity for the province to make a breakthrough, shaping its future development for decades to come, and contributing to making Lao Cai a center for economic and trade connections between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with southwestern China. The project will create significant opportunities for businesses inside and outside the province to participate in construction, supply materials, and provide logistics services, while also creating thousands of jobs and livelihoods, helping people increase their income and improve their living standards.

A section of the project route passing through the former Bao Thang district has been adjusted.

Therefore, the project has received close and regular guidance from the Party, State, Government, and central ministries and agencies. Accordingly, the National Assembly has issued specific mechanisms and policies for implementation, demonstrating the strategic priority given to the development of railway transport infrastructure. Investment preparation has been carried out quickly, synchronously, and decisively, setting very high deadlines, with construction scheduled to begin on December 19, 2025.

Alongside the immense opportunities lies a colossal workload, particularly in land clearance. The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project, with its 143.2 km section passing through Lao Cai, requires the acquisition of over 1,550 hectares of land, affecting 2,581 households and necessitating the construction of 45 resettlement areas. The total estimated cost for land clearance is nearly 8,200 billion VND. This is an unprecedented task in terms of scale and nature, demanding the synchronized, comprehensive, and decisive involvement of the entire political system. The Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee has established a Land Clearance Steering Committee chaired by the Provincial Party Secretary; issued a detailed plan and provided decisive direction with the goal of promptly handing over the land to the investor.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects the route of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project at the planned location of the new Lao Cai station (December 2024).

The entire provincial political system has implemented the land clearance work for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction project (the section passing through Lao Cai province) in accordance with the Prime Minister's directives. They have organized and implemented all tasks simultaneously, resolutely ensuring that no subsequent tasks are left undone, working day and night, and even working through holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). Party committees at all levels have demonstrated a high sense of responsibility, clearly defining the land clearance work for the project as a crucial political task in their leadership and management; working together in unity, focusing solely on action, with the highest determination, proactiveness, creativity, and a willingness to think outside the box and act for the benefit of the nation, the people, and Lao Cai province.