HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam has projected a cost of 179 trillion dong ($7.2 billion) to construct a new railway line connecting to China’s Yunnan province, according to the Vietnam News Agency. The proposed 427-kilometer (265-mile) route will extend from Lao Cai, near the Chinese border, through Hanoi and Haiphong, ending in Ha Long City.
The Vietnam Railway Authority submitted the plan for this railway to the Ministry of Transport, which is currently under review. Expected to begin construction by 2030, the railway aims to support an estimated 8.3 million passengers and 17.5 million metric tons of cargo annually by 2050.
Vietnam has been pursuing various upgrades to its railway infrastructure, including a separate $67 billion project for a high-speed line connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. The country has also been engaging China for technical expertise and funding, aiming to modernize its aging rail links with its largest trading partner.