Resolving Obstacles and Promoting the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong Railway and Ao Chau Urban, Cultural, Sports, and Golf Complex Projects

On the morning of March 20, Mr. Tran Duy Dong – Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee – chaired a meeting to hear reports on the investment project for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line (the section passing through Phu Tho province) and the Ao Chau Urban, Cultural, Sports, and Golf Service Complex project. Also in attendance were Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People’s Committee and leaders of relevant departments and sectors.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong speaking at the conference.

At the meeting, representatives from the Railway Project Management Board (Ministry of Construction) and the consulting unit reported on the study of active fault zones and proposed four options for adjusting the route at the Lo River crossing. The report also covered station locations, the design for a central station connecting the Viet Tri area, bridge designs for the Phu Tho section, and a comparative analysis between the Son Dong and North Viet Tri station locations.

Specifically, the CK205 section crossing the Lo River (with an affected length of 20km) is impacted by the Song Chay active fault zone. Based on this, the consultants analyzed various options regarding the alignment, route length, bridge locations, fault zone impacts, station layouts, passenger transport conditions, and compatibility with local planning. During the discussion, delegates evaluated the pros and cons of each option, proposing the most optimal and practical choice while requesting further clarification on connectivity and alignment with the province’s master plan.

Concluding this session, Chairman Tran Duy Dong highly appreciated the proactive efforts of the Project Management Board and the consulting unit. He noted that the proposed options were carefully calculated, providing a solid foundation for the province to select the most optimal route. Regarding the route alignment and station locations, the Chairman officially selected Option 1. This is considered the most feasible option as it avoids the central core of the old Viet Tri City, minimizing impact on residential life and reducing the volume of site clearance.

For the main station, he agreed with the proposal to select the new Son Dong station location. Placing the station here will not only expand the urban space of the provincial center but also enhance the link between Viet Tri and Vinh Yen. This position aligns with urban development plans along the Lo River and holds great potential for future Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).

The Chairman requested the Project Management Board and consultants to urgently review and strengthen these options with deeper analysis to ensure persuasiveness. He emphasized adding synchronous transport connections and reviewing necessary adjustments to existing local plans to ensure consistency. The Management Board was urged to request the Ministry of Construction to promptly hand over site clearance boundaries and field pegs so the province can build compensation and resettlement plans. Additionally, he suggested proposing a branch line to the Vinh Phuc ICD port to maximize transport capacity and socio-economic efficiency.

Overview of the conference

Chairman Tran Duy Dong noted that for sections passing through urban or densely populated areas, viaducts must be used to avoid spatial fragmentation and maintain urban aesthetics. Designs must have a long-term vision and be compatible with the province’s future overall transport development planning.

Following this, the Department of Construction reported on the progress and proposed solutions to resolve obstacles related to the Ao Chau Urban, Cultural, Sports, and Golf Service Complex in Ha Hoa commune. The project has a planned scale of approximately 487.84 hectares, with an expected implementation area of about 328.26 hectares. This is identified as a key project to help Phu Tho become a high-quality tourism, resort, and sports center for the Northern Midlands and Mountains.

Based on practical reviews and the latest legal frameworks from the 2024 Land Law and 2025 Investment Law, the Department of Construction proposed prioritizing the merging of components into a single mixed-use project (Urban area combined with a Golf course). This proposal received high consensus as it provides a firm legal basis for the State to recover land for the entire area, thoroughly resolving site clearance bottlenecks. It also ensures synchronized technical and social infrastructure while reducing financial pressure on investors through annual land lease payments, thereby minimizing the risk of “stalled projects” and wasted land resources.

In his conclusion, the Chairman affirmed that this project has great potential and needs to be materialized soon to attract capable investors. He agreed with the integrated tourism-urban-service model to enhance efficiency and feasibility. He assigned the Department of Construction to finalize the project and consolidate the legal basis for the next steps. During the planning process, the water surface area of Ao Chau Lake must be preserved to protect the natural landscape, with designs focusing on an eco-friendly direction that harmonizes tourism, services, and trade. Investment phases and compensation plans must also be carefully calculated for maximum efficiency.

Dinh Vu