The Vietnam National Assembly approved the construction investment project for the Lao Cai—Hanoi—Hai Phong railway on February 19.
This is not just the approval of a railway project. It marks a significant transition for Vietnam—from the era of narrow-gauge railways to the standard gauge era, and even into the high-speed railway age. More importantly, this project signifies Vietnam’s intent to join forces with China and with its East and Southeast Asian partners to embark on a new phase of economic and tourism development.
The construction of this new line is scheduled to take place from 2026 to 2030, with total length of 391 kilometers and an additional 27.9 kilometers of branch lines.
This railway will passes through nine provinces and cities in Vietnam and will use China’s 1435 millimeters standard gauge, replacing the narrow-gauge tracks previously used in Vietnam. The design speed for the line is set at 160 kilometers per hour.
