Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc signed Decision No. 1155/QD-TTg dated June 26, establishing the State Appraisal Council to appraise the adjusted Pre-Feasibility Study Report for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway construction investment project.

According to the Decision, the Minister of Finance serves as Chairman of the Council. The Vice Chairmen are the Deputy Minister of Finance and the Deputy Minister of Construction. Members of the Council include leaders from the Ministries of Industry and Trade; Agriculture and Environment; National Defence; Public Security; Science and Technology; Foreign Affairs; Justice; Culture, Sports and Tourism; Education and Training; the State Bank of Vietnam; and the People's Committees of Hanoi, Hai Phong, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, and Hung Yen. The Ministry of Finance acts as the standing agency of the Council.

The Council is responsible for completing the appraisal report in accordance with regulations, clearly stating whether the project dossier is sufficient or insufficient for the Government to submit to the National Assembly for approval of the adjustment to the project's investment policy.

The investment policy for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway construction project was approved by the National Assembly under Resolution No. 187/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025.

The project includes a main line of approximately 390.9 km and branch lines totaling approximately 27.9 km, using 1,435 mm standard-gauge single-track railway and conventional rail technology. The railway is designed for both passenger and freight transportation.

The design speed is 160 km/h for the main line from New Lao Cai Station to Nam Hai Phong Station, 120 km/h for the section passing through the Hanoi railway hub, and 80 km/h for the remaining sections.

The project has a total estimated investment of approximately VND 203.231 trillion and will be implemented under the public investment model. The railway will pass through six provinces and centrally governed cities: Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, and Hai Phong. The starting point is the cross-border rail connection in Lao Cai, and the endpoint is Lach Huyen Port Station in Hai Phong.