en.Wedoany.com Reported - On July 12, 2026,Vietnam's Ministry of Construction recently submitted an adjustment plan for the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway project to the government, including shortening the main line length, adjusting the functions of some stations, adding branch lines, and optimizing the line construction method. The adjustment is based on the latest transport demand forecasts and changes in regional transport planning, aiming to enhance the overall operational efficiency of the project, while the project construction objectives and technical standards remain unchanged.
According to the plan submitted by Vietnam's Ministry of Construction, China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd., as the project consultant, updated the transport demand forecasts and formulated a new plan during the feasibility study report preparation. Cargo from stations such as Dinh Vu, Lach Huyen, and Nam Dinh Son will be assembled at the South Haiphong station and then transported via the main railway line to Hanoi and Lao Cai. Therefore, the project's endpoint has been adjusted from the previously planned Lach Huyen station to the South Haiphong station. After the adjustment, the main line length is approximately 362 km, 27 km shorter than the previously approved plan, but the branch line length will increase accordingly to ensure connectivity with the regional railway network.
The Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway project was approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam in 2025, with an initial planned total length of about 417 km, including 389 km of main line and approximately 27.9 km of branch lines, with a total investment of about 203.231 trillion Vietnamese dong (approximately 8.37 billion USD). The first five stations of the project began construction in December 2025, and the entire line is targeted for completion before 2030.
Vietnam's Ministry of Construction recommends building a new approximately 8.4 km Yen Vien-Gia Lam railway connection line and renovating Gia Lam station to achieve a direct connection with the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway. Previously, the national railway network plan of Vietnam designated Yen Vien station as the passenger railway hub for the northern region, but Vietnam has since approved the transfer of the northern passenger hub function to Gia Lam station, with Yen Vien station primarily serving as a technical station in the future. The project consultant believes that early construction of the Yen Vien-Gia Lam connection line will help reduce travel time for passengers in the city center, bringing an estimated annual economic benefit of about 10.5 billion Vietnamese dong, while also strengthening the project's connection with the existing urban rail transit network and alleviating road traffic pressure.
Vietnam's Ministry of Construction also recommends adding several branch lines, including an approximately 0.5 km line connecting to Lao Cai station, an approximately 2.7 km line connecting to the Hanoi-Thai Nguyen railway, and an approximately 4.1 km line connecting to the existing meter-gauge Yen Vien-Lao Cai railway, to enhance the overall transport efficiency of the railway network and reduce cargo transshipment and transfer costs.
In terms of construction plans, Vietnam's Ministry of Construction recommends adjusting the construction standards for some sections, changing the Bac Hong to South Haiphong section from the originally planned single-track construction to direct double-track railway construction. This plan can meet long-term future transport demand, and by constructing double-track bridges simultaneously instead of a later expansion plan, it is expected to save approximately 12.58 trillion Vietnamese dong, while eliminating the need to build two technical stations, Kim Son and Quoc Tuan, reducing land occupation by about 115 hectares.
According to the adjusted plan, the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong railway will build a new 1,435 mm standard-gauge railway, accommodating both passenger and freight transport. The design speed for the main line from the new Lao Cai station to South Haiphong station is 160 km/h, the Hanoi urban section is 120 km/h, and other sections are 80 km/h. The Bac Hong-South Haiphong section and the Yen Vien-Gia Lam section will be built with double tracks, while other main lines will still be constructed to single-track standards, with conditions reserved for future expansion.
