On July 31, 2026, the Ministry of Construction issued Circular No. 63/2026/TT-BXD, together with a set of construction cost norms applicable to Component Project No. 2 under the Investment Project for the Construction of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong Railway.
Comprehensive Coverage of Major Work Categories
Under Circular No. 63/2026/TT-BXD, the accompanying set of construction cost norms consists of 14 appendices, covering major work categories ranging from basic construction, earthworks, bridges and culverts, tunnels and trackwork to specialized railway technical systems.
Specifically, Appendix I provides construction cost norms for basic construction works; Appendix II covers earthworks; Appendix III covers bridges and culverts; Appendix IV covers tunnels; and Appendix V covers trackwork.
For technical systems, the cost norms cover telecommunications, signaling, communications, power supply and traction power, as specified respectively in Appendices VI through X. Building works, water supply and drainage, locomotive and rolling stock mechanical systems, and railway stations are covered in Appendices XI through XIV.
This structure demonstrates that the scope of the cost norms is not limited to railway infrastructure construction but also extends to a wide range of specialized technical systems that play an important role in a modern railway project.
An Important Basis for Cost Estimation and Cost Management
The issuance of a dedicated set of construction cost norms for the Investment Project for the Construction of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong Railway provides a more consistent basis for project stakeholders in determining construction costs.
For consulting services, the cost norms serve as a basis for preparing cost estimates based on design quantities and determining the consumption of materials, labor and construction equipment for individual work items. For project owners and project management units, the cost norms provide a reference basis for checking, reviewing and managing costs during project preparation and implementation.
For contractors, a specialized system of cost norms provides a stronger database for bid price preparation, construction method planning and resource allocation. In particular, for railway-specific works such as track construction, signaling, communications, telecommunications and traction power systems, the availability of specialized cost norms is directly relevant to the preparation of bidding documents and the control of implementation costs.
However, a clear distinction should be made between construction cost norms and construction unit prices. Cost norms primarily determine the resources and quantities required to perform a unit of work, while construction costs also depend on material prices, labor costs, construction equipment costs and other cost components in accordance with regulations on the determination and management of construction investment costs.
Application of the Cost Norms and Effective Date
One of the key requirements is that the application of the construction cost norms issued together with Circular No. 63/2026/TT-BXD must comply with the regulations governing the determination and management of construction investment costs applicable to the project.
Circular No. 63/2026/TT-BXD officially takes effect on September 15, 2026. The Circular marks the introduction of a relatively comprehensive set of specialized construction cost norms for Component Project No. 2 of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong Railway.
Editorial Board – TECCO1