The Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway project, approved by the Prime Minister in 2004, utilizes government bonds with a total investment of VND 7,663 billion. Spanning 131 km, the line connects Yen Vien Station (Hanoi) to Cai Lan Port (Quang Ninh), designed with dual-gauge tracks (1,435 mm and 1,000 mm), operating at speeds of 120 km/h for passenger trains and 80 km/h for freight trains.
Upon completion, travel time from Ha Long to Yen Vien will reduce to just 1.5–2 hours, establishing an efficient, low-cost passenger and freight corridor between Hanoi and Quang Ninh.
Divided into four sub-projects, construction began in 2008 with a planned 2011 completion. However, due to public investment cuts under Resolution 11/2011/NQ-CP, the project halted in 2011 after disbursing VND 4,322 billion (56% of the total). Sub-project 1 was completed and operational; Sub-projects 2 and 3 were partially constructed; Sub-project 4 remained in the design phase.
Current status of the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway. Photo: Hoang Duong.
Under Conclusion 49-KL/TW by the Politburo and the 2021–2030 National Railway Network Plan, this line is a priority project to be completed by 2030. “This provides critical political and legal grounds to revive the project, linking Hanoi and Quang Ninh’s growth hubs,” emphasized the Ministry of Construction.
The Ministry of Construction (formerly the Ministry of Transport) directed the Railway Project Management Board to review files, resolve issues, and propose a restart plan aligned with current conditions.
According to the Vietnam Railways Agency, the 2004 project primarily aimed to transport goods from Yunnan (China) via Cai Lan Port, then planned as the northern deep-water port. However, current planning designates Lach Huyen Port (Hai Phong) as the international gateway, repositioning Cai Lan for urban and maritime services.
The Hanoi – Bac Ninh – Hai Duong (now Hai Phong City) – Quang Ninh corridor is booming in tourism and services, increasing passenger demand over freight. The project’s focus has shifted to prioritize passenger transport.
The Ministry of Construction proposes converting the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway to standard gauge (1,435 mm). Photo: Hoang Duong.
The revised investment plan totals approximately VND 9,989 billion, an increase of VND 2,300 billion, requiring an additional VND 5,560 billion. The Ministry of Construction has submitted funding requests for 2026–2030 to the Ministry of Finance for the Prime Minister’s review.
Notably, the Ministry clarified the project’s connection to the proposed Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed rail by Vingroup. Per Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha’s directive, the Ministry guided the company in finalizing documents and coordinated with the Vietnam Railways Agency to include the new line in national planning.
If the high-speed rail is approved, the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan line will shift to freight services. Otherwise, the Ministry will complete the existing line for passenger operations as planned.
After over a decade of dormancy, the Yen Vien – Pha Lai – Ha Long – Cai Lan railway is poised for revival within a new transportation framework—aiming not just to complete infrastructure but to sustainably connect Hanoi and Quang Ninh, northern Vietnam’s key growth poles.
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Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyễn Danh Huy led a working delegation to inspect the Khe Nét railway tunnel project, part of the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City railway line.
