Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport (MoT) has introduced a USD7.3 billion railway plan to link Lao Cai and Quang Ninh, provinces bordering China. The rail line will span 448 km and will use a 1,435 mm gauge and pass through regions like Hanoi and Hai Phong, with 41 stations facilitating both freight and passenger services. The route will also connect directly to seaports in Hai Phong, enabling smoother logistics and trade flows with China.
The site clearance for the project is expected to cost approximately USD950 million, meanwhile, equipment and construction expenses are set at USD4.35 billion, alongside an additional USD1.33 billion for other technical elements.
The project’s first section, running from Lao Cai to Hai Phong, is targeted for completion by 2030. A subsequent extension from Hai Phong to Quang Ninh will follow. This railway is part of a broader infrastructure strategy supporting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Two Corridors, One Belt economic framework, which aims to deepen Vietnam-China trade. The Government of Vietnam is also considering two additional rail links with China: the Hanoi-Lang Son and Hai Phong-Mong Cai routes. In October 2024, MoT outlined a USD13 billion investment proposal to develop these and other vital routes connecting the two countries.