Over 8.3 billion USD to build railway line passing through 9 provinces and cities connecting China

The Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway line passing through 9 provinces and cities was newly built with the goal of connecting with Hai Phong international seaport and connecting with China.

A freight train connecting to China. (Photo: Viet Hung/Vietnam+)

The Ministry of Transport has just submitted to the Government the investment policy for the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway construction project.

Accordingly, the project passes through 9 provinces and cities: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Hai Phong. The starting point is at the rail connection point across the border between the new Lao Cai station and Ha Khau Bac station (China), in Lao Cai city; the end point is at Lach Huyen wharf area, in Hai Phong city.

The Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway has a main line of about 390.9km (including the new Lao Cai station-Lach Huyen wharf station section of 385.8km and the new Lao Cai rail-station section of 5.1km) and 3 branch lines of about 27.9km (the branch line connecting Nam Dinh Vu station to Dinh Vu wharf area is 7.5km long; the branch lines connecting to Yen Vien station are 7.7km long; the branch line connecting Nam Do Son station is 12.7km long), with a gauge of 1,435mm. The entire route is expected to have 18 stations including 3 train stations Lao Cai, Yen Thuong, Nam Hai Phong and 15 mixed stations.

The main section (from Lao Cai station to Nam Hai Phong station, excluding the Hanoi hub area) has a design speed of 160km/h; the section through the Hanoi hub area has a design speed of 120km/h; the connecting sections and branch lines (the new Lao Cai rail-station connection section; the Nam Hai Phong station-Lach Huyen station section; the branch line connecting Nam Dinh Vu station to Dinh Vu wharf area; the branch lines connecting to Yen Vien station, the branch line connecting Nam Do Son station) have a design speed of 80km/h.

The new Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway will transport both passengers and goods. The existing railway undertakes domestic passenger transport, short-distance tourism, and transport of certain types of goods with available cargo ports directly connected to the railway.

The project has a total investment of about 203,231 billion VND (equivalent to about 8.369 billion USD), in the form of public investment. For the section in Hai Phong city, the People's Committee of Hai Phong city proposed to use local budget capital to invest in the Nam Do Son branch section (12.7km) and carry out site clearance work for the project section through the city.

The Ministry of Transport also plans to approve the feasibility study report in the third quarter of 2025; complete the technical design, select a contractor for a construction package, and start the project at the end of 2025.

The Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway line is newly built with the goal of connecting with Hai Phong international seaport, connecting with China to implement the "Belt and Road" initiative and the Connectivity Cooperation Plan within the framework of "Two Corridors, One Belt", meeting the demand for high-quality, fast, convenient and safe transportation, reducing emissions.

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