Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a Government Standing Committee meeting to review the situation and continue urging and accelerating the implementation progress of railway projects.

Regarding the North–South high-speed railway project, the Ministry of Construction has reported on the selection of technology partners; it is directing the preparation of task outlines and bidding documents to be completed in March 2026, and the selection of consultants for the feasibility study in Q2 2026. All 15 localities and the Electricity Group are actively reviewing and quantifying site clearance, relocating power lines, and implementing resettlement areas.

For the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway project, component projects are being implemented in parallel, including Component 1 (investment in infrastructure connecting stations and plazas), Component 2 (railway construction), as well as site clearance and power relocation components.

For the Hanoi – Lang Son and Hai Phong – Mong Cai railway lines, the Ministry of Construction is focusing on completing the inception reports in April 2026 and finalizing planning in 2026. The Ministry has also issued guidance on procedures to assign the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee as the managing authority/investor for the Hai Phong – Ha Long – Mong Cai railway project.

Regarding urban railway lines, Hanoi is implementing investment procedures for six lines (of which four are expected to commence construction in 2026) and is currently implementing three lines; Ho Chi Minh City is prioritizing preparation for investment in six lines during the 2026–2030 period.

The Ministry of Construction has sought opinions from ministries and localities on the system of standards and technical regulations for urban railways, and is developing national technical regulations for metro systems, expected to be issued in Q3 2026.

In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister noted that following the 7th meeting of the Steering Committee for important national railway projects, implementation has improved significantly; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been proactive in deploying urban railway projects. Ministries and localities must be more proactive, flexible, and effective in addressing issues, in line with directives from the Politburo, National Assembly, and Government.

For upcoming tasks, the Prime Minister requested ministries and localities to complete standards, criteria, and procedures based on international standards but adapted to Vietnam’s conditions, ensuring unified nationwide implementation, inspection, supervision, and interconnection of projects.

Projects must be implemented on schedule in compliance with regulations and standards, ensuring quality; inspection, auditing, and supervision must be strictly conducted to prevent corruption and misconduct. Investment procedures and capital allocation must meet progress requirements with strict and effective control.

Localities must accelerate site clearance and resettlement, ensuring timely implementation and better living conditions for relocated residents, with improved infrastructure and livelihoods.

The Ministry of Construction and Vietnam Railways Corporation must develop specific plans for workforce training. At the same time, funding sources should be diversified (state, private, PPP, loans, bonds) and optimized. Advanced construction technologies and processes should be applied creatively to accelerate progress and improve quality.

For the North–South high-speed railway, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Construction to provide a comprehensive report on technology selection, develop standards, and finalize the feasibility study and selection of investors and contractors (consultancy, construction, control systems).

For the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway, localities must accelerate site clearance, complete the feasibility study in March, and implement connecting infrastructure.

For the Hanoi – Lang Son line, localities shall support planning consultants. For the Hai Phong – Ha Long – Mong Cai line, procedures to assign local authorities as managing agencies/investors must be completed, with support from the Ministry of Construction and Ministry of Finance if needed.

For urban railways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, most issues have been resolved; remaining issues should be addressed with support from the Ministry of Finance regarding funding. The Prime Minister emphasized prioritizing projects connecting Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat airports with Ho Chi Minh City center. For privately invested lines such as Ben Thanh – Can Gio and Hanoi – Quang Ninh, authorities must ensure supervision and propose appropriate policies.

The Ministry of Finance shall urgently review and submit for approval the restructuring plan of Vietnam Railways Corporation before March 20. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall complete procedures to submit for approval the railway industry development plan in March 2026, and continue proposing mechanisms and policies to competent authorities.

VPDAĐS – TECCO1