The Sustainable Infrastructure and Urban Development Project in Lao Cai, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is being actively implemented by the local authorities. The project aims to upgrade urban infrastructure, improve residents’ living conditions, and promote sustainable socio-economic development.
HALCOM Vietnam is participating in the project as the Environmental and Social Consultant, working closely with the Lao Cai Provincial Transport Construction Investment Project Management Board to ensure compliance with Vietnam’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulations as well as the ADB’s international safeguard requirements under the Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) 2009.
The project is considered highly significant for Lao Cai Province’s development, particularly in the context of rapid urbanization and the growing demand for improved infrastructure. Its key components focus on developing an integrated urban infrastructure system, enhancing drainage and wastewater treatment facilities, strengthening climate resilience, and improving the quality of life for local communities. Particular attention is given to ethnic minority communities living across 14 communes, ensuring they benefit from the project’s sustainable development outcomes.
Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee meets with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) mission to discuss the findings of the field survey for the Sustainable Infrastructure and Urban Development Project in Lao Cai, March 16, 2026. Photo: Lao Cai Newspaper.
During the project preparation phase, environmental and social consulting played a fundamental role in ensuring that the project would be implemented in a sustainable and responsible manner. HALCOM Vietnam provided direct consulting and technical support to the Project Implementation Unit in preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, ensuring full compliance with Vietnam’s prevailing environmental regulations.
Project staff and experts conduct fieldwork in Ta Phin Commune, Lao Cai Province. Photo: HALCOM Vietnam.
Based on this work, the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment under Decision No. 2658/QD-BNMT dated 11 July 2025, providing an important foundation for the subsequent phases of project implementation.
Building on this milestone, HALCOM Vietnam is currently conducting the second round of stakeholder consultations on the draft social safeguard documents required by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), including the Resettlement Plan (RP) and the Ethnic Minority Development Plan (EMDP). These are key safeguard documents designed to protect the rights and interests of project-affected people, strengthen community participation, and minimize potential adverse social impacts throughout project implementation.
HALCOM Vietnam’s project team conducts field visits to project sites in Ta Phin Commune, Lao Cai. Photo: HALCOM Vietnam.
As of March 2026, HALCOM Vietnam’s consulting services have achieved several key milestones. The project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was approved on schedule, marking a significant milestone that enabled the Feasibility Study to be approved by the Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee in October 2025. Meanwhile, the second drafts of the Resettlement Plan (RP) and the Ethnic Minority Development Plan (EMDP) are currently undergoing consultation with relevant provincial departments, land acquisition and site clearance authorities, and are scheduled to be submitted to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for review by the end of March 2026.
Following ADB’s completion of the appraisal process, broad stakeholder consultations are expected to be conducted in April 2026 with affected communities, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders within the project area. Based on the consultation outcomes, HALCOM Vietnam will continue to support the Project Management Board in finalizing the required documentation for submission to the Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee for approval, providing the basis for land acquisition and site clearance activities.
In parallel with the Lao Cai project, HALCOM Vietnam is also independently implementing the consultancy package for updating the environmental and social safeguard documents under the Priority Infrastructure and Climate-Resilient Urban Development Project in Vinh, Nghe An Province. Under Consultancy Package CF1.14, HALCOM Vietnam is responsible for assessing environmental and social compliance at resettlement sites while updating the project’s Resettlement Plan (RP), which is being implemented in two phases.
HALCOM Vietnam’s participation in large-scale projects with rigorous environmental and social safeguard requirements, such as the ADB-funded project in Lao Cai, further demonstrates the Company’s expertise and proven experience in sustainable infrastructure consultancy. It also reflects HALCOM Vietnam’s commitment to supporting the effective implementation of development projects while ensuring a balanced approach between economic growth, environmental protection, and social sustainability.