On October 17, in Xuan Quang commune, Lao Cai province, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) held the inauguration ceremony of the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500kV transmission line project. This is a project to successfully celebrate the first Government Party Congress (term 2025-2030), towards the 14th National Party Congress.
Efforts to overcome difficulties, complete ahead of schedule
Previously, the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project was successfully energized on September 30, 2025, completing 8 months ahead of schedule according to the Investment Policy Decision approved by the Prime Minister.
During more than 6 months of construction, the project has faced many difficulties and challenges, but with the high determination of EVN, Power Project Management Board 1, consulting units, contractors and technical workers, the project has been implemented synchronously, effectively and ensured progress.
The team of engineers and workers of the National Power Transmission Corporation and thousands of workers worked in "3 shifts, 4 teams", "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain", "over the holidays, over Tet" to ensure the construction items were on schedule, safe and of the highest quality.
After half a year of construction, the project has completed a large amount of work including: Dredging nearly 1.8 million cubic meters of soil and rock for foundation holes; pouring 110,000m3 of concrete with 7,500 tons of steel; producing and installing 55,000 tons of steel poles; pulling more than 6,000km of cables of all kinds.
Sharing with reporters, Mr. Tran Tien Lap - a worker at Lao Cai Power Company - said: "To inaugurate the Lao Cai 500kV Power Line Project and reach the finish line on time, we, the workers, always try our best during the work process. Many people can only visit their families once every 2 months. But because this is a national key project, everyone tries."
Emulation movement spreads at construction sites
Speaking at the ceremony, Central Party Committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc highly appreciated the spirit of " speedy launch, the victory" of the EVN team, when the project was completed nearly 8 months ahead of schedule.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized: "The project is of special significance, promptly adding 3,000MW of transmission capacity from the Northwest region to the national power system, contributing to ensuring energy security, while expanding cooperation in power supply with China in the future".
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam's socio-economic growth rate requires the electricity industry to increase annual power generation capacity by 8,000 - 10,000MW, equivalent to an increase of 15-18% per year. The completion of the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen route is a concrete step, creating a breakthrough in strategic infrastructure, ensuring stable power supply for industrial parks and key economic regions in the North.
EVN Deputy General Director Pham Hong Phuong said that the project has a large scale of construction, passing through 31 communes in Lao Cai and Phu Tho provinces. Of which, more than 86% of the pole foundation locations are located on high mountains, many of which are in natural forests and protective forests, requiring careful construction and strict compliance with regulations on forest and environmental protection. "We mobilize maximum human resources, apply flexible construction solutions to shorten time, ensure absolute safety for people and equipment" - Mr. Phuong said.
According to Mr. Do Duc Hung - Chairman of Vietnam Electricity Trade Union: "To ensure the project reaches the finish line on time, the Electricity Trade Union regularly visits, encourages, and grasps the situation of units and workers. At the same time, we also launched emulation programs for workers to work enthusiastically and devote themselves to completing this project of great significance".
Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Phan Van Anh said that the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project is a project jointly launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and EVN with the theme: "Three pioneers - Two responsibilities". The emulation movement at construction sites has become an inspirational flame, connecting the will of tens of thousands of cadres, engineers, and workers, fostering the spirit of solidarity and determination of workers in the common aspiration of "Completing as soon as possible, safest, most effectively".
"In the Project, we have repeatedly witnessed the image of workers at the construction site in the rain, wind, heat and thick fog, still resiliently and quietly completing their tasks. They are the vivid symbol of the patriotic emulation spirit, a testament to the strength and determination of the Vietnamese working class in the new era.
The success of the emulation movement to build the 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen line today is the result of a journey of effort and determination in leadership and direction; the strength of solidarity and responsibility of each union member and employee converging into a unified bloc" - Mr. Phan Van Anh expressed.
The 500kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project is a national key project with an investment of more than VND 7,410 billion with a length of 229.5km, 468 pole foundation locations, passing through the two provinces of Lao Cai and Phu Tho. To synchronize operation, the Lao Cai 500kV Transformer Station project (phase 2) with a total investment of more than VND 1,564 billion has also been completed and is ready to be put into operation with the same power line.
When in operation, the project is capable of transmitting about 3,000MW from hydropower plants in the Northwest region and neighboring provinces to the national grid, contributing to reducing power losses, improving system operation efficiency and ensuring national energy security.
Energy bloodline connecting the Northwest with the plains
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Associate Professor, Dr. Ngo Tri Long - an economic expert assessed that the 500 kV Lao Cai - Vinh Yen transmission line project put into operation is not only a new transportation project, but a "system lever" that brings multi-layered positive impacts to the economy and national energy security.
First of all, the project immediately released the power generation capacity of the Northwest region, bringing about 3,000MW from hydropower plants and neighboring sources into the system, reducing the pressure of power shortages in the dry season and peak hours.
Second, the line creates strong connections between areas in the 500kV system of the Northern region, increasing the "denseness" of the spinal network, helping to regulate more flexibly over time and space.
Third, considering the regional development and investment attraction, stable and high-quality power sources are a prerequisite for processing industries, supporting industries, logistics centers and sustainable urbanization in the Northern midlands and mountainous areas.
Finally, from the institutional - administrative perspective, the project is a testament to the centralized direction mechanism, "organizing 4 on-site construction, 3 shifts and 4 teams", coordinating with many sectors - many levels, with the participation of the military, police, mass organizations and people.
Tuyet Lan
