Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presides over the third meeting of the Steering Committee for key projects and national important projects in the railway sector, Ha Noi, July 9, 2025. Photo: VGP

The decision was made at the third meeting of the national steering committee for key projects in the railway sector held in Ha Noi on July 9.

The 15th National Assembly (NA) approved investment policy for the high-speed North-South railway project at its 8th session on November 30, 2024.

The 350-kph railway will stretch 1,541 kilometers, connecting 20 cities and provinces, namely Ha Noi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thua, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City.

The project will have total investment capital of around VND1,713.5 trillion (US$67.6 billion).

The construction of the first sections from Ha Noi to Vinh city in central province of Nghe An and Nha Trang city in the central province of Khanh Hoa to Ho Chi Minh City is expected to begin in late 2027.

The remaining section from Vinh to Nha Trang is scheduled to begin in 2028-2029.

The Government will strive to complete the whole project by 2035. 

Meanwhile, the Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong rail line will span approximately 390.9 kilometers for the main route and include 27.9 kilometers of branch lines. 

The project will traverse nine localities of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Ha Noi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Hai Phong. Starting at the border crossing point in Lao Cai Province, the line will end at Lach Huyen Station in Hai Phong City.

The main line from the new Lao Cai Station to Nam Hai Phong Station will be designed for speeds up to 160 km/h, while sections through Ha Noi will operate at 120 km/h and the remaining will run at 80 km/h.

The costs of the project is estimated to be VND203.2 trillion (about US$8.369 billion), or about US$15.69 million for each kilometer of the project./.