The Government of Vietnam has expedited preparations for the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong standard gauge railway, with construction scheduled to begin in December 2025. The directive was issued via Official Dispatch No. 54/CD-TTg dated April 30, 2025, following the signing of a technical assistance agreement between Vietnam and China for the project’s feasibility study.
The Ministry of Construction is tasked with coordinating with provinces for route demarcation and land clearance, with feasibility studies due by June 2025 and site handover targeted for August 2025. Provinces along the route must establish steering committees by May 2025 to oversee clearance and resettlement. Temporary housing will be provided if needed to avoid delays. The Ministry of Finance is reviewing budget reallocations to support the timely implementation.