The cross-border track junction of Vietnam’s Lao Cai Station and China’s Hekou North Station
According to the VRA’s proposal, the railway will span over 388 km across nine provinces and cities, starting at the cross-border track junction of Vietnam’s Lao Cai Station and China’s Hekou North Station, and ending at Lach Huyen Port of Hai Phong City. It will have 30 stations.
VRA wants the project to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval soon so as to kick off construction by the end of this year.
Construction will be implemented in around six years since it gains approval and the loan agreement takes effect.
The project is planned to be divided into two phases, with the first one seeing the entire route with a single-track system completed by 2030. Then, a double-track system and the South Hai Phong - Nam Dinh Vu branch will be built in the second phase, after 2050.
The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project is estimated to cost VND211 trillion (USD8.70 billion) to build, comprising VND135.60 trillion in concessional loan sourced from the Export - Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) and VND75.43 trillion in corresponding capital of the Vietnamese Government.
Earlier, PM Pham Minh Chinh requested the Ministry of Transport to propose the project to the Government and concerned agencies in January 2025, and complete related procedures so that construction can starts by December this year.