VIENTIANE - Laos and Vietnam agreed on Sept. 21 to keep advancing priority cross-border connectivity projects, including the Vientiane–Hanoi Expressway and Vientiane–Vung Ang Railway.

Lao Standing Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and Vietnamese Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc reviewed implementation of the governments’ 2026 cooperation plan during talks in Vientiane.

They agreed to continue promoting several priority projects that had experienced slow progress, including the expressway, railway, electricity trading and petroleum pipeline and storage facilities.

Construction is under way on the 203.8-kilometre second section of the Vientiane–Hanoi Expressway, running from Pakxan district in Bolikhamxay province to the Laos–Vietnam border in Xaychamphone district. The developer is targeting completion in 2029, according to a Sept. 22 Vientiane Times update.

The planned Vientiane–Vung Ang railway is about 562 kilometres long. Laos signed a concession agreement on March 31 for the 147-kilometre Thakhek–Mu Gia section. The Lao Investment Promotion and Management Committee said the agreement is intended to lead to construction of the section.

The wider cooperation agenda includes electricity trading, petroleum pipeline and storage facilities and other economic links. Bilateral trade reached US$1.8 billion during the first eight months of 2026, according to KPL.

The Sept. 21 discussions followed commitments made earlier this year to move the same transport projects forward. As reported in February, Lao and Vietnamese leaders had agreed to speed up the expressway and railway projects as part of broader bilateral connectivity plans.

In a later meeting with Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith, Pham reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to implement high-level agreements with Laos and advance key projects according to their planned timelines.