According to the Railway Project Management Board (Ministry of Construction), the latest design plan has adjusted the section passing through Lao Cai province from double-track to single-track.
The route has a length of 143.83km, passing through 12 communes and wards with a total land recovery area of about 651.5ha, a decrease of more than 745ha compared to the pre-feasibility study plan.
On the entire route, 38 stations will be formed with many different functions. The section passing through Lao Cai province has 9 stations, of which Nam Lao Cai Station is identified as an international intermodal station, playing a connecting role with the Chinese railway network through the Ha Khau area.
Over the past time, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee has coordinated with the Ministry of Construction, the Railway Project Management Board and consulting units to review the route direction and location of stations to limit the impact on existing residential areas, and at the same time create room for the development of logistics centers and new urban areas in the future.
In May 2026, the Railway Project Management Board coordinated with relevant units to hand over land clearance boundary markers for stations in the province.
This is an important basis for localities to update land use planning, urban planning and orientations for industrial and service development along the route.
However, the implementation process still faces many difficulties. To date, the dossier for planting markers and site clearance boundaries according to the feasibility study plan has not been fully handed over.
This makes it difficult for localities to have a legal basis to synchronously carry out measurement, inventory, determine the origin of land and develop compensation plans.
One of the areas heavily affected is Dong Pho Moi Industrial Park, Dong Pho Moi Industrial Cluster and Son Man - Van Hoa Industrial Cluster, where site clearance is expected to be carried out to build Nam Lao Cai Station.
Mr. Nguyen Huy Long - Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial Business Association - said that many businesses in the region are owning production lines, industrial machinery, cold storage, fire prevention and fighting systems and many specialized assets of great value.
The counting, determination of compensation value and relocation plan for these assets is very complicated, requiring a specialized unit to appraise and provide specific guidance.
In addition, localities are also confused in applying the new regulations of the 2024 Land Law and Decree 88/2024/ND-CP related to compensation for housing and construction works.
Many contents need to be clearly guided such as determining the level of compensation for the affected project, criteria for assessing the usability of the remaining part of the project or the handling of materials and supplies after demolition.
Faced with the above reality, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee has proposed to the Ministry of Construction and the Railway Project Management Board to soon provide complete land clearance boundary documents for the locality to deploy work according to the plan.
At the same time, it is proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment guide the removal of obstacles related to compensation for assets and works attached to land when recovered.
According to leaders of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway line is a strategic infrastructure project, of particular importance to socio-economic development, expanding regional linkage space and promoting international trade.
Therefore, the locality proposed that ministries and sectors soon guide and resolve so that site clearance work can be deployed synchronously, creating conditions for the project to start and construct on schedule.
