HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway project to get off the ground on December 19 at five locations simultaneously, urging the Ministry of Construction to finalize a detailed implementation roadmap.
The directive was issued at a meeting on May 20 chaired by PM Chinh, head of the national steering committee for major railway infrastructure projects, including the North-South high-speed railway and cross-border rail links with China.
The Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway will span nearly 419 kilometers and require an estimated investment of over US$8.3 billion.
According to the Ministry of Construction, preparations such as land clearance boundaries, centerline coordinates, and station locations have been completed. The planned alignment has been handed over to nine provinces and cities along the route.
Localities have established land clearance steering committees. Meanwhile, the project investor is selecting a consultant for environmental impact assessment, forest conversion, cost estimates for design consultancy packages, and the feasibility study report. Capital needs are also being calculated for discussions with potential partners.
Other proposed railways connecting to China include the 156-kilometer Hanoi-Dong Dang line with an estimated investment of US$6 billion, and the 187-kilometer Haiphong-Halong-Mong Cai route, expected to cost around US$7 billion. These projects are in the pre-feasibility study and planning stages, with several proposed mechanisms under review.
The North-South high-speed railway, stretching 1,541 kilometers from Hanoi to HCMC, has an estimated investment of over US$67 billion. Authorities have finalized land boundary files and centerline coordinates for clearance. Preparations are also underway for technical standard reviews and consultancy tenders.
The Government is also working on supporting domestic enterprises to participate in the project, developing workforce training plans, and drafting legal frameworks, including a proposed Government decree and a National Assembly resolution. Plans are being developed to establish Vietnam’s railway industry, including production of locomotives and signal systems.
Regarding private sector interest, the Ministry of Construction has asked VinSpeed to refine its investment proposal for involvement in the North-South high-speed railway project, focusing on feasibility, timeline, and investment effectiveness.
PM Chinh stressed that the railway development agenda has strong political backing, saying “The Party has directed, the Government has agreed, the National Assembly supports, the people expect it, and the nation awaits it.” He urged ministries and localities to act decisively and follow through with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables.
He requested that ministries coordinate with international partners to finalize route alignments, complete feasibility reports, and mobilize diverse financing sources, including loans, bonds, public investment, public-private partnerships, and both domestic and foreign capital.
Technology transfer discussions are underway, focusing on locomotive manufacturing and signaling systems. Human resource development strategies are being planned for technical workers, engineers, and researchers across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with enhancing cooperation on Vietnam–China railway links, in line with the two countries’ joint statement.
For the North-South high-speed rail, PM Chinh also asked the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Bank of Vietnam to review VinSpeed’s proposal and report it to relevant authorities.
All ministries and agencies were instructed to report weekly progress to the prime minister every Monday, under the coordination of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.
