The first railway line in Vietnam designed with a speed of 120km/h, this project is expected to become one of the key transport links in the Northern Key Economic Region, connecting two corridors and one belt of the Vietnam-China economic zone.
With a total length of 131km, the project starts from Yen Vien Station, passing through Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, and Quang Ninh provinces, and ends at Cai Lan Port in Ha Long City. It involves the construction of 43km of new railway and the upgrade of the remaining 88km from the Kep-Ha Long railway line.
However, it is heartbreaking that after nearly two decades of construction, this railway line is almost useless, failing to live up to its expected potential. The Ha Long Station in Quang Ninh Province, as seen in the picture, is deteriorating and resembles a ruin.
The final stop on this railway line is Cai Lan Station in Ha Long City. Despite its impressive design featuring multiple tracks and a modern station building, this station only received a few freight trains during its inauguration and has been closed ever since.
This is Vietnam’s first broad-gauge railway line with a track gauge of 1.435mm (Vietnam currently uses a meter-gauge system with a track gauge of 1.000mm).
Due to this unique gauge, passenger and freight trains on this line can only travel as far as Yen Vien Station and cannot continue further, as the tracks beyond this point have a different gauge.
According to the Ministry of Transport, between 2008 and 2011, Vietnam’s economy faced challenges and was impacted by the global economic crisis. As a result, the Yen Vien- Pha Lai- Ha Long- Cai Lan Railway Project had to be halted and its timeline adjusted according to Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated February 24, 2011, issued by the Government.
To restart the project, the Ministry of Transport has recently advised the Government to submit a proposal to the Politburo, resulting in the issuance of Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW. This conclusion affirms the completion of the Yen Vien- Pha Lai- Ha Long- Cai Lan railway line by 2030.
The Ministry of Transport is currently working on adjusting the pre-feasibility study report for the project to serve as a basis for reinvestment in the 2026-2030 period.
During the period when the project is not yet ready for reinvestment, the Ministry of Transport will coordinate with local authorities, relevant ministries, and sectors to address difficulties and promote economic development in the project area. They will also focus on mobilizing capital to facilitate the early implementation of this railway project.
In Quang Ninh Province alone, nearly 3,000 households have been affected by the Yen Vien- Pha Lai- Ha Long- Cai Lan Railway Project, spanning the districts of Ha Long, Uong Bi, and Dong Trieu.
For nearly two decades, households within the project area have been unable to build or repair their houses, split or transfer land use rights, or obtain land use certificates. The recent decision to restart the project has brought new hope to these nearly 3,000 households in Quang Ninh and numerous other households affected by the railway line.
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