The Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong Railway is a proposed upgrade of the current railway along the same route. The original line is a metre-gauge railway that was built by France to connect Kunming in China to the port in Haiphong.
The new line would be a standard-gauge railway that will be connected to the standard-gauge railway from Kunming to Hekou on the China-Vietnam border. The line would carry passenger and cargo rail, and it would have a top speed of 160 km/h.
Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong Railway Map
[Map of Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong Railway.]
Links and Resources
Viet Nam: Greater Mekong Subregion Kunming–Hai Phong Transport Corridor: Yen Vien–Lao Cai Railway Upgrading Project
Evaluation Document – 21 December 2017.
News Archive
2023
China Railway Group expresses interests in building Việt Nam’s railways – [16/09/23]
“He suggested the China Railway continue working with relevant Vietnamese ministries and localities to develop new projects in Việt Nam, including the Lào Cai-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng express railway linking with the Kunming-Hà Nội-Hải Phòng economic corridor.”
Planning underway for 440-kilometer railway linking Hanoi with northern provinces – [08/09/23]
“Designed for a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, the railway will start in Lao Cai Province, traverse Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Haiphong, and end at the Cai Lan Port in Quang Ninh.”
US$17 billion needed to build railway connecting to seaports – [18/07/23]
“…the detailed planning of the 380km-long Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong project has been basically completed at a cost of about 11 billion USD.’
National railway investment requiring foreign push – [15/03/23]
“East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Japan’s largest rail operator, has expressed interest to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) about upgrading and renovating the Hanoi-Haiphong railway line, as well as building the route to Haiphong Port.”
“Under the plan, the Hanoi-Haiphong route will be upgraded. The long railway to Haiphong port connecting with Lach Huyen port and Dinh Vu port, worth about $1.5 billion, has also been included in the list of projects seeking foreign investment.”
“The Hanoi-Haiphong railway will be 102km long and will be developed as a double-track railway. The Haiphong side connects the railway to Dinh Vu, Nam Do Son, and Lach Huyen ports. The Lao Cai side links the railway with Chinese railways to exploit intermodal and transit transport.
The upgrade for the existing railway will be conducted after 2025. The single-track railway gauge of 1,000mm remains unchanged with both passenger and freight trains. Meanwhile, the new 1,435mm railway line will specialise in freight trains only.”
Hai Phong aims to become an international logistics centre – [27/01/23]
“By 2030, it will become a modern international logistics service centre with sea, air, highway and high-speed rail”.
2022
Standard-gauge railway to connect Vietnam with Eurasia market via China and boost Trans-Asian railway development – [13/11/22]
Vietnam urged to get China-backed railway project on track, avoid ‘missed opportunities’ despite concerns – [12/11/22]
Vietnam, China issue joint statement – [01/11/22]
“The two sides agree to actively promote connectivity of their development strategies, accelerate discussion on and the signing of a cooperation plan between the two governments on promoting connectivity between the “Two corridors, one belt” Framework and the “Belt and Road” Initiative, roll out cooperation in production capacity, infrastructure construction and transport connectivity, and early complete the evaluation of the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong standard gauge railway planning.”
2021
Vietnam to have additional 18 railway routes by 2050 – [26/08/21]
“The top priority projects for capital allocation are the North-South high-speed railway including two routes of Hanoi-Vinh, HCMC-Nha Trang, those of Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, Vung Ang-Tan Ap-Mu Gia, Di An-Loc Ninh, HCMC-Cantho, Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong, and Hanoi-Dong Dang.”
2020
Belt and rail: New Vietnam-China train aims to put relations on track – [15/01/20]
“Updating a colonial legacy railway might offer more than a smoother connection between sometimes tense neighbours.”
2019
Proposed Hai Phong–China train route raises concerns over hefty price tag – [27/11/19]
No money, no need: Experts question proposed rail line to China – [27/11/19]
Railway route linking Chinese border to cost USD4.34 billion – [26/11/19]
“According to the Chinese consulting firm proposed planning, the 390-kilometre line will run through the eight localities of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Haiphong.
Part of the track will be laid between Lao Cai and China’s Hekou County.
The route will have the global standard track gauge of 1.435 mm, instead of the country’s current 1,000 mm.
The project will have 73 bridges and 38 stations along with an annual goods transportation capacity of some 10 million tonnes. Train speed would be 160 kilometres per hour.”
China finances research study for Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway project – [26/11/19]
“The Chinese government has provided non-refundable aid for Vietnam worth over VND32 billion (US$1.37 million) to conduct a survey and a master plan for the Lao Cai – Hai Phong – Hanoi railway project connecting with China, according to the Ministry of Transport (MoT).”
Plans proposed for building Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway – [07/03/19]
“The Beijing-based China Railway Fifth Survey and Design Institute Group, the consultant unit that mapped out Vietnam’s Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong rail route project, has proposed two plans for the project’s construction, according to the Ministry of Transport.”
2018
Vietnam plans to construct faster railway to China border – [12/04/18]
“According the project plans, the 391km railway traversing Hai Phong city, Hanoi and Lao Cai province will have the global standard track gauge of 1,435mm instead of century-old gauge of 1,000mm common in Vietnam. The average speed for passenger trains can reach 160km per hour while the freight ones will run at about 90km per hour.”
2017
Leaders of communist neighbours China and Vietnam won’t let maritime dispute sour relations – [11/01/17]
“Other deals are still being negotiated. These include a protocol for China to provide technical support for the building of a coastal railway linking Lào Cai, Hanoi and Haiphong.”
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