On April 7th in Hanoi, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh held a meeting with Laos Minister of Public Works and Transport Leklay Sivilay to discuss promoting key transport infrastructure connectivity projects under bilateral cooperation.
At the meeting, Minister Leklay Sivilay emphasized the strong friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two Governments, and the peoples of Laos and Vietnam.
The state visit of To Lam to Laos, taking place as both countries celebrate the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party in February 2026, clearly demonstrates the close, brotherly ties between the two nations.
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Minister Tran Hong Minh delivered a speech at the working session.
Leklay Sivilay stated that Laos wishes to accelerate key and strategic connectivity infrastructure projects between the two countries, including the Hanoi–Vientiane expressway, the Vung Ang–Vientiane railway, as well as enhancing the exchange of expertise in managing large-scale construction projects.
Minh said current transport collaboration between the two countries focuses on three key connectivity projects.
Regarding the joint investment project to develop Vung Ang Port, which has shown positive progress, Minh proposed that both ministries coordinate with relevant agencies to implement the project effectively, ensuring investment efficiency and economic viability.
He also tasked relevant units with creating the most favourable conditions for Lao goods to be imported and exported via Vang Ang Port in particular and Vietnamese seaports in general, boosting intermodal transport connectivity.
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Minister Leklay Sivilay delivered a speech at the working session.
For the Ha Noi–Vientiane Expressway, Viet Nam has completed the Ha Noi–Vinh section, while the Vinh–Thanh Thuy section received investment policy approval in November 2025. The project has been assigned to Nghe An Province as the investor, with construction expected to begin in May and completion targeted for next year. Minh stressed the need for further coordination to ensure construction on both sides of the border is synchronized and connected as soon as possible.
Regarding the Vung Ang – Mu Gia – Thakhek – Vientiane railway project, Minh emphasized this long-term strategic project could transform Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked country and should be implemented as soon as possible.
To ensure practical and efficient operation, he proposed that both sides, particularly the investor consortium Petro Trade Laos–Đeo Ca, study and propose implementation mechanisms under a public–private partnership model. This includes project consultancy, management, division into component projects, identification and mobilization of funding, and unified technology standards and technical regulations.
Overview of working session.
At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to actively enhance exchanges to promote cooperation in the transport sector, especially key infrastructure connectivity projects. They also agreed to study and develop new agreements on road and railway transport between Vietnam and Laos, creating favorable conditions for transportation, trade, and people-to-people exchanges before the Hanoi–Vientiane expressway and the Vung Ang – Mu Gia – Thakhek – Vientiane railway become operational.
Both sides will formulate a detailed and specific implementation plan for the Vung Ang–Mụ Giạ–Thakhek–Vientiane Railway, ensuring alignment on all relevant issues and enabling early investment and execution of the project.
These efforts will further strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of Construction and the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport substantively and effectively; contributing to deepening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.