HANOI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Vietnam will start building a new railway from its largest northern port to the border with China by the end of next year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said.

The government will submit the project to the National Assembly for approval in February, Chinh said on Sunday in a statement.

The 417-km (259-mile) railway will run from Lao Cai province through capital Hanoi to Haiphong City, the statement said.

Photo from Tuoi Tre News