VIENTIANE: Construction of the Laos-Vietnam Railway, linking Vientiane with Ha Tinh province in central Vietnam, is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the line expected to be completed and operational by 2030, according to project developers.
Once completed, the railway will link the Lao capital with the Vung Ang seaport in the Vietnamese province, providing Laos with direct access to a sea trade route. The Vietnamese government has agreed for Laos to hold the majority stake in the seaport, according to a previous report.
Regarding the railway project, the Lao side has now completed about 90 per cent of the fundraising, field surveys, technical studies, design work, and environmental impact assessment, paving the way for construction to start next year.
Meanwhile, Vietnam plans to begin work on its section of the railway in 2027.
The update was provided by the CEO and founder of Petroleum Trading Lao Public Company (PTL), Chanthone Sitthixay, at the Laos-Vietnam Investment Promotion Conference on Dec 3.
PTL is the lead Lao investor and main project developer. Chanthone serves as the principal decision maker overseeing the project’s planning and financing and coordination between the two countries.
He is also the primary representative authorised to brief the media and government partners on progress.
Chanthone said the Laos-Vietnam Railway aligns with the goal of the two parties and governments to enhance economic cooperation, particularly in transport and logistics.
He said the railway is a key component of efforts to transform landlocked Laos into a land-linked nation and further elevate its role as a regional and global trade corridor.
“As of now, the Lao side has completed 90 per cent of the fundraising, surveying, studies, design, and environmental impact assessment work, and will begin construction in 2026,” Chanthone said.
“As for the Vietnamese side, they are in the process of carrying out an economic study and drawing up a preliminary design, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and completion scheduled for 2030.”
The investment cost of the Vientiane-Vung Ang Port railway is estimated at US$6.6 billion.
The Lao portion of the railway will extend for 452km and is divided into two sections. The first runs from Thakhaek district in Khammuan province to the Vietnamese border over a distance of 139.19km, while the second stretches for 312.81km from Vientiane to Thakhaek district. The Vietnamese section is expected to cover a distance of about 119km.
Once operational, the railway will significantly improve transport between the two countries, providing faster, safer and more efficient services. The project is also expected to bolster trade and investment flows.
The railway will be another link in the ties that bind Laos and Vietnam, further strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and supporting their long-term stability and development. - Vientiane Times/ANN
