Prime Minister requests to start construction of Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project on December 19

VTV.vn - The Prime Minister directed ministries, branches and localities to complete preparations and ensure the commencement of Component 1 of Project on schedule.

The Prime Minister chaired the 4th meeting of the Steering Committee for key national projects and important railway projects. Photo: VGP

The Government Office issued Notice No. 579/TB-VPCP dated October 27, 2025, summarizing the conclusions of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh - Head of the Steering Committee - at the fourth meeting of the Steering Committee for important national railway projects.

The announcement stated: At the third session, the Prime Minister assigned 39 tasks, which ministries, sectors, and localities have implemented very actively. To date, 16 tasks have been completed, meeting the requirements. On behalf of the Steering Committee, the Prime Minister welcomed and commended the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities in carrying out the assigned tasks.

In addition, there are several important tasks underway that need to be completed soon: (i) The Ministry of Finance should expedite negotiations and sign the framework loan agreement for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project; propose the issuance of government bonds and allocate 5% of the development investment expenditure for the 2026-2030 period to ensure a proactive approach to funding for the project; and develop a restructuring plan for the Vietnam Railway Corporation; (ii) The Ministry of Industry and Trade should take the lead and coordinate with the Vietnam Electricity Group to review and guide the investor on the supply of power sources, the power system, and electricity demand to ensure supply for railway projects; (iii) The Ministry of Construction should take the lead in working with the Chinese side on the technology transfer plan for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project.

Ensure the commencement of Component Project 1 of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway on December 19, 2025.

The Prime Minister requested that ministries, sectors, and localities focus on implementing the following key tasks:

The Ministry of Construction, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice, will review the policy mechanisms to mobilize resources, including state resources (central and local) and non-state resources. Ministries, sectors, and agencies are requested to submit their comments as requested by the Ministry of Construction and as directed by the Prime Minister regarding the drafting of a Resolution on a special mechanism for implementing the high-speed railway project, for early submission to the National Assembly.

The Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Science and Technology, in accordance with their functions and responsibilities, are tasked with developing, evaluating, and publishing standards and regulations for railways (high-speed railways, urban railways) to be completed by October 2025. This is a crucial requirement to be completed as a basis for implementing subsequent work.

Regarding the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway project, the Ministry of Construction, in coordination with the People's Committees of Hai Phong, Hanoi, and Bac Ninh provinces and cities, will urgently work to finalize the route plan and the locations of the remaining stations (Nam Hai Phong station, Yen Thuong station, Kim Son station) by October 2025.

At the same time, the Ministry of Construction is urgently preparing all necessary conditions to ensure the commencement of Component Project 1 (using domestic capital) on December 19, 2025, at the stations, including agreeing with the Ministry of Construction's proposal to organize the main conference point at Lao Cai station. It is important to review and ensure that all procedures comply with the law and the National Assembly's Resolution on the Project.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is supporting and expediting the assessment and approval process of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the forest land use conversion dossier for Component Project 1.

The Ministry of Finance is urgently establishing a negotiating team and conducting negotiations on the framework agreement and the funding contract for the Project; and is urgently implementing the Prime Minister's directive on the proposal to issue government bonds for the Project to ensure a proactive approach to securing funding for the Project's implementation.

Local authorities are urged to promptly review and accurately report their capital needs to the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Finance for timely allocation and coordination, ensuring that land clearance work is not delayed due to lack of funds; and to focus on completing land clearance to ensure the commencement of Component Project 1 on December 19, 2025.

Urgently finalize the specific mechanisms and policies for implementing the North-South high-speed railway project.

Regarding the North-South high-speed railway project, the Ministry of Construction, in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, is urgently completing the dossier on evaluating and selecting the optimal investment form, criteria for selecting investors, and the dossier on specific mechanisms and policies for the project after the promulgation of regulations, standards, and procedures, in accordance with the directives of the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's directive in document No. 10049/VPCP-CN dated October 16, 2025, and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha's notice No. 567/TB-VPCP dated October 22, 2025; and directing the Railway Project Management Board to complete the selection of the consultant to support project preparation as reported by the Ministry of Construction.

Local authorities and the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) continue to accelerate land clearance and relocation of technical infrastructure according to the approved plan.

Local authorities should urgently review and accurately report their capital needs to the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Finance so that timely allocation and coordination can be ensured, preventing delays in land clearance due to lack of funds.

The Ministry of Construction is coordinating with the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security to clear land, conduct surveys, and relocate defence and security facilities to ensure the efficiency and progress of the Project.

Regarding urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Hanoi People's Committee will take the lead in proposing and submitting to the Ministry of Finance for compilation and submission to the Prime Minister before November 5, 2025, for consideration and decision on mobilizing ODA and preferential loans for Project Line 3 (Hanoi Station - Hoang Mai) in accordance with the Government's regulations in Resolution No. 318/NQ-CP dated October 9, 2025, and relevant laws; coordinating with the Ministry of National Defense to soon agree on the land acquisition policy for the Depot of Project Line 5 (Van Cao - Hoa Lac). At the same time, it will accelerate the progress of Project Lines 2 and 3 (Cau Giay - Hanoi Station) and the procedures for adjusting the projects according to the TOD model.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee is focusing on completing the procedures for adjusting Project Line 2 (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong), striving to start construction by the end of 2025; prioritizing investment in the railway line connecting Tan Son Nhat with Long Thanh International Airport.

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant agencies, will promptly address proposals regarding ODA funding and financial mechanisms for urban railway projects.

Submit the restructuring plan for Vietnam Railways Corporation in October 2025.

In addition, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Construction to urgently finalize and submit to the Government in November 2025 a Decree regulating the assignment of tasks, orders, and criteria for selecting Vietnamese organizations and enterprises to be assigned tasks and orders for the supply of railway industrial goods and services.

The opinions of the People's Committee of Hai Phong City (regarding the location of Nam Dinh Vu station of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project) and the People's Committee of Dong Nai Province (regarding the addition of one more station at Xuan Hoa for the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis) will be considered in order to make a decision within their authority in November 2025.

At the same time, urgently study the establishment of an independent expert team for the Projects (including domestic and foreign experts) as directed by the Prime Minister in document No. 6978/VPCP-CN dated July 28, 2025, to support the Ministry of Construction.

The Ministry of Finance is urgently submitting to the Prime Minister the restructuring plan for Vietnam Railways Corporation, to be completed by October 2025.

Source: https://vtv.vn/thu-tuong-yeu-cau-khoi-cong-du-an-duong-sat-lao-cai-ha-noi-hai-phong-vao-19-12-100251027195722394.htm