The newly passed resolution aims to build a high-speed, modern railway system to facilitate domestic transportation and international trade between Vietnam and China. The project is expected to serve as a key economic driver for the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong economic corridor, ensuring effective connectivity with both domestic and international railway networks.

Project details and investment

The railway will start at the border connection point in Lao Cai and terminate at Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong, spanning a total length of 390.9 km for the main route and 27.9 km for branch lines across nine provinces and cities.

Designed as a single-track railway with a 1,435 mm gauge, the line will accommodate both passenger and freight transportation. The maximum speed is set at 160 km/h for the main route, 120 km/h through Hanoi’s urban area, and 80 km/h in other sections.

Funded entirely through public investment, the project has a total estimated cost of 203.2 trillion VND (over $8.3 billion). The National Assembly has outlined plans to complete feasibility studies in 2025 and finalize construction by 2030.

Comparisons and feasibility concerns

Prior to approval, National Assembly Secretary-General Le Quang Tung addressed comparisons between this railway and the Vientiane-Boten railway in Laos, a 418 km line that cost $5.96 billion to construct.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport, the estimated cost per kilometer of the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway is approximately $15.96 million, which is in line with regional standards and comparable to other international railway projects.

However, officials emphasized that cost variations depend on factors such as terrain, technology, construction period, and safety standards.

Some National Assembly members expressed concerns over a proposal to reduce accountability for project leaders in cases of financial mismanagement, waste, or conflicts of interest. Critics argued that such provisions could weaken governance and set a precedent for leniency in future projects.

In response, the National Assembly Standing Committee recommended that the government carefully review accountability policies to ensure fairness while encouraging initiative and responsibility among officials.

Tran Thuong