Urgent Proposal for High-Speed Rail Investment in the North-South Corridor

Implementing Projects with the Spirit of “3 Haves” and “2 Haves Not”

On the evening of January 6th, at the Government Office, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Steering Committee for Key Projects and Important National Railway Projects, chaired the 5th meeting of the Steering Committee, connecting online with 18 provinces and cities where the railway projects pass through.

Information from the meeting revealed that two projects have been approved for investment policy, including the North-South High-Speed Railway and the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong Railway project.

Among these, Component 1 of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong route was inaugurated on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution; construction began on several resettlement areas; and capital was allocated for land clearance in many localities for the two railway projects.

Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister commended and highly appreciated the Ministry of Construction and other ministries, sectors, and localities for actively implementing their assigned tasks.

The Prime Minister also highlighted challenges to overcome, such as the need to execute multiple tasks simultaneously and the very tight schedule. To commence the North-South High-Speed Railway Project in December 2026, completing the Feasibility Study Report for the North-South high-speed line within 12 months is highly challenging, requiring extremely urgent and scientific preparation.

Considering the upcoming period as crucial and important, the Prime Minister requested the entire political system to continue thoroughly grasping the spirit of “6 Clears” and strictly implement “3 Concentrations”: Concentrated leadership, concentrated forces, and concentrated resources for these key projects.

The Prime Minister also emphasized implementing projects with the spirit of “3 Haves” and “2 Haves Not”: Have benefits for the State, have benefits for the people, have benefits for businesses, and have no corruption, negativity, or waste of public assets, efforts, and money.

Selecting the Most Suitable Technology for the Project

For the North-South High-Speed Railway project, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Construction to take the lead, coordinate with relevant agencies to review Vietnamese and international standards, guidelines, and international experiences, as well as Vietnam’s conditions, to select the most suitable technology for the project.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Construction will lead the development of criteria and procedures for selecting investment methods in a scientific, transparent manner, ensuring national interests and combating corruption and negativity; submit to the Standing Government Committee before January 10, 2026; and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice to clarify the legal basis and authority for this proposal, reporting to the Prime Minister before January 15, 2026.

The Prime Minister also urged the swift completion of contracts with consulting support, accelerating the preparation of the feasibility study report, and striving to commence some components by the end of 2026 as planned.

Localities and the Vietnam Electricity Group will continue to accelerate land clearance and the relocation of technical infrastructure according to the approved plan and the Resolution of the National Assembly at its 10th session of the 15th term.

For the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong Railway project, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Construction to complete the Feasibility Study Report by March 2026, approve the project by July 2026, and commence major components from December 2026.

The Ministry of Finance was tasked with leading and coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Construction to expedite negotiations and sign the Loan Agreement and the Agreement on the Construction of the Cross-Border Railway Bridge between Vietnam and China in the first quarter of 2026.

Regarding urban railway projects, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to proactively implement routes within their authority, ensuring progress and quality; review and apply synchronized, modern standards, aiming to develop the domestic railway industry.

“Priority must be given to the implementation of the railway line connecting Long Thanh International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport; and the Van Cao – Hoa Lac urban railway line in Hanoi,” the Prime Minister emphasized.