The Vietnam Railway Authority (VNRA) has proposed the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to review and approve the planning of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh railway line.

Accordingly, the proposed railway line, with a total length of about 427 km,  starts at Lao Cai station (from the point of connection with the Chinese railway) and ends at Ha Long station (belonging to the Kep - Ha Long railway line), running through 10 provinces and cities including  Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Ha Noi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh.

The total investment for the project is estimated at approximately VND179.12 trillion ($7.11 billion). In which, VND23.45 trillion ($494.33 million) is allocated for land clearance, VND107.26 trillion ($4.26 billion) for construction and equipment, and the remaining capital is for consultancy, project management, and contingency.

According to a study, the transport demand on this railway is forecast to reach 12.77 million tons of goods and 4.65 million passengers by 2030; and these respective figures will be increased to 14.94 million and 6.22 million by 2040, and 17.48 million and 8.31 million by 2050. 

The TRICC - TEDI consulting consortium has proposed dividing the railway into two main lines and two branch lines. Accordingly, the main line from Lao Cai station to the South of Hai Phong city and  Lach Huyen Port (Hai Phong city) will be more than 391 km long, and the main line from the South of Hai Phong city to Cai Lan port (Quang Ninh province) will be over 50 km long. The two branch lines include the South of Hai Phong city - Nam Do Son Port (Hai Phong city) at 12.63 km and Nam Dinh Vu port (Hai Phong city) - Dinh Vu port (Hai Phong city), being 12.63 km and 7.41 km long, respectively.

Under the proposed plan,  the projected Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong line will be implemented by 2030 and the Hai Phong - Quang Ninh line will be studied and implemented after 2030, along with the investment roadmap of the Nam Dinh - Thai Binh - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh coastal railway.