The Great Relocation: Over 1,800 Phu Tho Residents to Make Way for Strategic Railway Development

The Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line, spanning 99 km through Phu Tho province, traverses 5 wards and 15 communes: Phong Chau, Phu Tho, Van Phu, Vinh Yen, and Phuc Yen wards, and Dan Thuong, Yen Ky, Ha Hoa, Quang Yen, Dong Thanh, Thanh Ba, Xuan Lung, Phu Ninh, Song Lo, Son Dong, Hoi Thinh, Vinh An, Vinh Hung, Yen Lac, and Binh Nguyen communes.

The starting point of the line in Phu Tho province is located in Dan Thuong commune, while the endpoint falls within Phuc Yen ward.

The railway line will feature 5 stations in the province (including 4 mixed-use stations and 1 passenger station), along with 2 technical operation stations.

Approximately 620 hectares of land will need to be acquired, and over 1,800 households will have to be relocated to facilitate the project. It is anticipated that 36 resettlement areas will be constructed.

Moreover, the construction will require the relocation of nearly 300 locations of power lines and medium and low-voltage transformer stations, as well as around 200 lighting poles.

In addition, numerous infrastructure projects will be impacted, including schools, industrial clusters, urban areas, logistics projects, and water supply and drainage systems.

Currently, provincial authorities are coordinating with the Railway Project Management Board to determine the extent of the impact and formulate appropriate solutions in accordance with regulations. The estimated total cost for compensation, support, and resettlement is expected to exceed VND 12,363 billion.

The Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway is a key national transportation project, facilitating trade and promoting the development of logistics and industries in the northern midlands and mountainous regions. It serves as a strategic railway link in the Kunming-Hanoi-Hai Phong economic corridor, enhancing connectivity with China.

The Prime Minister has instructed the People’s Committee of Phu Tho province to urgently direct the formulation of compensation, support, and resettlement plans for the entire line within the provincial scope, separate from the general project. This should be done in accordance with the guidance of the Ministries of Construction, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Natural Resources and Environment. The province is also expected to make thorough preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony of the resettlement area liberation project, scheduled for August 19, 2025.

The People’s Committee of Phu Tho province is coordinating with relevant ministries, sectors, and units to review and formulate plans for the development of stations integrated with logistics centers, inland ports, and urban areas along the railway line. Additionally, they are working on implementing connecting transport routes to maximize the project’s efficiency.