HCMC – The development of a railway linking Lao Cai, Hanoi, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh is projected to require a total of VND179.1 trillion, with VND23.4 trillion of it going to land clearance and VND107.3 trillion to construction and equipment.
The Vietnam Railway Authority has requested the Ministry of Transport to review a proposal for the 427-kilometer railway. The project aims to enhance rail transport capacity and improve connectivity to key seaports and industrial zones in the region.
The railway will start at Lao Cai station, connecting with the Chinese railway network, and end at Halong station in Quang Ninh Province. The route will include 41 stations and pass through 10 provinces and cities, including Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh.
The consultancy group TRICC-TEDI proposed two main rail lines and two branches, with the longest section stretching 391 kilometers from Lao Cai to South Haiphong and Lach Huyen port.
Projections indicate that the railway could carry 12.77 million tons of freight and 4.65 million passengers annually by 2030, increasing to 17.48 million tons of freight and 8.31 million passengers by 2050.
The proposal recommends prioritizing the construction of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong section by 2030, with the extension to Quang Ninh planned for after that year.
