On the morning of March 27, leaders of Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces had a working session to agree on many important contents to accelerate the progress of the Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway project, a strategic inter-regional transport route.
At the working session, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee and the working delegation of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee led by Mr. Ha Quang Trung - Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee - exchanged and agreed on the contents related to the Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway construction investment project.
Attending were Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh - Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, along with leaders of departments and branches of the two localities.
Speaking at the working session, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh emphasized that in the period 2026 - 2030, Lao Cai identifies the development of transport infrastructure as one of the strategic breakthroughs.
The formation of dynamic traffic axes will contribute to expanding development space, improving competitiveness, and at the same time making Lao Cai an important transit point on the Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor.
In the overall picture, the Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway plays a particularly important role. The route not only directly connects the two localities but also contributes to completing the expressway network in the Northwest region, strengthening links with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai route, thereby expanding connectivity to Hanoi Capital and major economic centers.
When completed, the project is expected to create motivation to effectively exploit potential in tourism, trade, logistics and agriculture and forestry; shorten travel time, reduce transportation costs, and enhance investment attraction.
At the same time, the route also has important significance in ensuring national defense and security, improving mobility, disaster response, and rescue in mountainous areas.
According to the proposal, the project is pre-feasibility studyed by the Lai Chau Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board, with a length of about 163.5km. The starting point is at IC. 16 intersection in Bao Ha commune (Lao Cai), the ending point is at Ma Lu Thang border gate (Lai Chau).
Of which, about 50km passes through 5 communes of Lao Cai including Bao Ha, Van Ban, Duong Quy, Minh Luong and Nam Xe.
The total estimated investment is about 53,000 billion VND. Two route options are being studied including: connecting through the Sa Pa Airport area to Ma Lu Thang and the option from the Kim Thanh area to Ma Lu Thang.
Choosing the optimal option will be the basis for effectively exploiting the land fund, ensuring feasibility and sustainable development.
Regarding progress, the project is expected to complete the pre-feasibility study report in the first - second quarters of 2026, submit it to the Government in the third quarter of 2026, and approve the investment policy at the end of 2026. If approved, the project will start construction in the second quarter of 2028 and be completed in 2031.
At the working session, the two localities agreed on orientations and route plans suitable to the plan, and at the same time proposed a coordination mechanism in the process of preparing and implementing the project.
Mr. Ha Quang Trung - Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee - requested the two provinces to continue to closely coordinate, soon agree on the scale, route direction and investment form; proactively remove difficulties right from the preparation stage, and promptly report to competent authorities for contents beyond their authority.
With the consensus of the two localities, the Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway is expected to become a new driving axis, expanding the development space, creating a breakthrough for the Northwest region in the coming time.
In addition to the Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway project in the research process, the two provinces are also implementing the Project to Connect Transportation of Northern Mountainous Provinces with a total length of about 199 km, invested by Project Management Board 2 (Ministry of Construction), with a scale of more than 6,000 billion VND, started on June 4, 2019 and expected to be completed on June 30, 2026.
