Vietnam is accelerating construction of three cross-border railway projects linking to China’s national network, implementing gauge standardization to enable seamless freight and passenger operations across both systems.
The priority Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong line will commence construction by late 2025 following National Assembly approval of the $8.3 billion investment plan. The 390-kilometer electrified single-track railway features 1,435-millimeter standard gauge infrastructure designed for mixed traffic operations. Construction is scheduled for completion by 2030.
Technical specifications call for new electrified infrastructure capable of handling projected freight volumes of 9 million tonnes annually on the parallel Hanoi-Lang Son route, which will utilize double-track configuration to meet 2050 demand projections. The third route, Hai Phong-Ha Long-Mong Cai, focuses on coastal connectivity and international transit capacity.
China and Vietnam established a bilateral railway cooperation mechanism to align technical standards and operational protocols. The Chinese Ministry of Transport is providing technical assistance for feasibility studies and framework agreements for government financing arrangements.
Infrastructure integration extends beyond new construction. The projects will connect Vietnam’s port facilities at Hai Phong—the country’s largest northern container terminal—directly to China’s trans-Eurasian rail networks via Yunnan province border crossings at Lao Cai.
Supporting rail infrastructure includes new freight terminals and multimodal logistics facilities. Vietnam SuperPort signed agreements with China Railway 16th Bureau Group to construct integrated rail-port facilities within its 83-hectare logistics complex, establishing centralized freight handling along the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong corridor.
The standardized gauge adoption represents a significant shift from Vietnam’s existing metre-gauge system, enabling direct rolling stock operations between networks and eliminating transshipment requirements at border crossings. Construction planning includes provisions for additional stations and branch lines to maximize operational efficiency and regional connectivity.
