New move on Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway with capital of 8.37 billion USD

Illustration photo.

The Ministry of Construction has just issued Official Dispatch No. 2706/BXD-KTQLXD to the People's Committees of the provinces and cities: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Hai Phong regarding support for the implementation of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project.

Specifically, the Ministry of Construction requested the People's Committees of the above 9 provinces and cities to direct local authorities where the Project passes through to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people, relevant agencies and units to clearly understand the purpose and significance of the Project; create favorable conditions for consulting units to access the site during the survey and accurate route alignment (when the site has not been cleared); at the same time, focus on security and order in the area; avoid construction within the planned land area for profiteering.

The People's Committees of Lao Cai Province and Hanoi City are requested to direct the Department of Construction to conduct inspections, reviews and support the acceleration of the process of granting additional certificates of testing according to Chinese standards for laboratories in the area that meet the conditions, in order to meet the technical requirements and progress of the Project.

According to the Ministry of Construction, the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project was approved by the National Assembly in Resolution No. 187/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025, with the goal of putting it into operation from 2030.

The project was implemented under very special conditions, different from usual, including: The National Assembly approved the investment policy with many special main mechanisms, applied for the first time, so the implementation process of the participating subjects was still confusing.

In addition, the Project has support from the Chinese Government, including non-refundable aid to support the technical preparation of the Project Feasibility Study Report, so the implementation procedures and processes are different from other normal projects.

In particular, relevant units must implement the Prime Minister's direction to simultaneously deploy tasks, with unprecedented urgency, to strive to start the Project in December 2025.

Previously, at the meeting to direct key projects and important national railway projects held on the morning of April 26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh clearly stated that the unchanged goal is to start the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway investment project in 2025 and start the North - South high-speed railway in 2026; assigning agencies to urgently complete the resolution to unify specific mechanisms for all railway projects, submit to the Government in April for submission to the National Assembly before May 5, 2025.

Regarding the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway construction investment project, the Prime Minister requested agencies to continue to discuss, work and urge the Chinese side to soon complete the loan agreement negotiations, meeting the project implementation progress.

Regarding site clearance for projects, the Prime Minister stated that laws, mechanisms and policies are in place, and localities must take the initiative in site clearance, mobilizing the entire political system and forces; especially, it is necessary to complete site clearance for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong route investment project in September this year.

According to Resolution 187, the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project, with a total capital of VND 203,231 billion, equivalent to USD 8.37 billion, strives to be completed by 2030 at the latest.

The project starts at the cross-border rail connection point (Lao Cai province), ends at Lach Huyen station (Hai Phong), nearly 391 km long; branch line length is 27.9 km, passing through 9 provinces and cities including Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Hai Phong. The railway line is newly invested with a single track, 1,435 m gauge, for general passenger and cargo transport; designed speed is 160 km/h for the main line from the new Lao Cai station to Nam Hai Phong station; 120 km/h for the section through the hub area of Hanoi city; speed is 80 km/h for the remaining sections. Preliminary total land use demand is about 2,632 ha, resettled population is about 19,136 people.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/dong-thai-moi-tai-tuyen-duong-sat-lao-cai---ha-noi---hai-phong-von-837-ty-usd-d274425.html