Vietnam's Ministry of Construction has announced the contractors selected for two major transport infrastructure projects: five railway stations along the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong line and the completion of the Than Vu tunnel on the North–South expressway.

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Current state of the Hanoi–Lao Cai railway. Photo: Vu Diep

According to the Railway Project Management Board, the XL-LHH-01 construction package includes five new stations and the Than Vu tunnel project. All work is scheduled to commence simultaneously on December 19.

For the railway segment, the winning joint venture consists of:

Truong Son Construction Corporation
Vinaconex (Vietnam Construction Import-Export Corporation)
FECON JSC
Vietnam Railway Construction Corporation (VRCC)
319 Corporation under the Ministry of Defense
Each contractor will handle one of the five stations:

Lao Cai Station (Lao Cai): Truong Son Construction
Phu Tho Station (Phu Tho): VRCC
Bac Hong Station (Hanoi): 319 Corporation
Luong Tai Station (Hung Yen): Vinaconex
Nam Hai Duong Station (Hai Phong): FECON

The package is valued at nearly 299 billion VND (approximately 12 million USD).

Local governments have accelerated land clearance efforts, although challenges remain, especially in residential and industrial zones. These include relocating utility infrastructure (power lines, fiber optics), converting forest and rice farmland, and sourcing fill materials and dumping sites.

The full Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway stretches over 419 km and features 18 stations. It connects Lao Cai Station to Ha Khau North Station (China) at one end and Lach Huyen Port (Hai Phong) at the other.

While the master plan envisions dual tracks, the initial phase will be a single-track line with standard 1,435mm gauge, designed for both passengers and freight. Trains will use centralized traction with operating speeds of 120–160 km/h depending on the section.

Total investment for the railway project is 203,231 billion VND (around 8.2 billion USD), funded by public investment, government bonds, and ODA. Negotiations with China are ongoing regarding concessional loans, interest rates, and other terms.

Joint venture wins $82 million contract for Than Vu tunnel on North-South expressway

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The section near the Than Vu tunnel on the North–South expressway slated for upgrade. Photo: TA

For the Than Vu tunnel upgrade on the eastern section of the North–South expressway, the selected contractors are:

Hoa Hiep Co., Ltd.
Transport Construction Corporation 8
Bridge 75 JSC

The project spans 8.2 km, running through Tan Chau and Than Linh communes in Nghe An province. It involves expanding the main road from four to six lanes, increasing the roadbed width to a minimum of 32.25 meters and the pavement to 30.75 meters.

A major component is the completion of the 1,087-meter-long left tunnel, 13.78 meters wide, to facilitate two separate tunnels for each traffic direction - aligning with six-lane highway planning.

Additional works include the construction of a new 16.25-meter-wide bridge structure for three bridges: Xuan Duong 1, Xuan Duong 2, and Than Vu. These bridges will be built using reinforced and pre-stressed concrete, totaling over 4.13 km in length.

The project also incorporates intelligent transport systems (ITS), fire prevention and control systems inside the tunnel, and other technical infrastructure to meet modern standards.

Total investment is approximately 2,070 billion VND (about 82 million USD). Construction will take 18 months, with the project expected to open to traffic by June 2027.

Once completed, the Than Vu tunnel upgrade will significantly boost capacity along the Dien Chau–Bai Vot section and meet rising transport demands along the North–South expressway.

Vu Diep