The Government of Vietnam has commenced construction works on five stations along the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway line, following a coordinated ground-breaking ceremony held in Lao Cai Province. The event marked the start of Phase One of the project and was organised jointly by the Ministry of Construction and the People’s Committees of the six provinces and cities along the corridor: Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, and Hai Phong.
The ceremonies were held simultaneously at Lao Cai Station, with additional venues connected online from Phu Tho Station, Bac Hong Station in Hanoi, Luong Tai Station in Hung Yen, and Hai Duong Nam Station in Hai Phong. The five stations form part of the initial investment phase focusing on station infrastructure and station square development.
The Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway has a total mainline length of approximately 390.9 km, with branch lines extending a further 27.9 km. Designed as a single-track, standard-gauge railway (1,435 mm), the line will support operating speeds of up to 160 km/h on the main Lao Cai–Nam Hai Phong section, 120 km/h through the Hanoi hub area, and 80 km/h on remaining sections. The route will serve 32 stations in total, connecting Vietnam’s northern border with China in Lao Cai to Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong.
The project has a total investment of more than VND203.2 trillion (approximately USD7.7 billion) and is being implemented through public investment, with completion targeted by 2030. Phase One includes station-related infrastructure with an investment exceeding VND3.2 trillion, while Phase Two will cover construction of the full railway alignment from the cross-border connection in Lao Cai to Lach Huyen Port, with an estimated cost of around VND155.5 trillion. Once completed, the railway is expected to strengthen multimodal connectivity along the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong economic corridor, enhance international rail links with China, and support long-term socio-economic development in northern Vietnam.