HCMC – The first tunnel boring machine (TBM) used for the Nhon–Hanoi Station metro line has completed its full tunneling route, marking a new milestone in Vietnam’s urban underground construction capabilities.
On December 1, TBM No. 1 — named Than Toc (Lightning Speed) — reached Station S12 (Hanoi Station), finishing its drive through the first four underground stations of the project. The machine began tunneling at Station S9 (Kim Ma) on July 30, 2024, and passed through Stations S10 (Cat Linh) and S11 (Van Mieu) before arriving at its final point.
This is the first time Hanoi has deployed a TBM for tunneling beneath its dense urban core, including areas with complex infrastructure and cultural heritage sites. The completion marks a major step forward for the nearly four-kilometer underground section of the metro line.
During the drive, TBM Than Toc installed 1,720 concrete ring segments and operated under strict safety, technical and environmental standards to minimize impacts on the surface, especially in crowded neighborhoods and heritage areas.
A second TBM, Tao Bao (Bold), is continuing excavation on the remaining tunnel section and is currently heading toward Station S11. As of December 1, the contractor reported that Package CP03 — the underground tunnels and stations — had reached more than 72% completion. Workers have cast 3,395 of the 3,495 tunnel ring segments required for both TBMs.
Nguyen Ba Son, deputy head of the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB), said the breakthrough at Station S12 represents a historic milestone for the project and reflects the sustained efforts of engineers and construction teams.
According to Park Young Ill, project director for the Hyundai–Ghella joint venture, Hanoi’s geological conditions are complex and the surface environment includes a mix of new and old buildings as well as cultural and historical sites. He said the tunneling was carried out with strict safety protocols and support from international experts, helping overcome technical challenges. The successful performance of TBM No. 1, he added, provides confidence in the progress of TBM No. 2.
Nguyen Quoc Bao, deputy general director of FECON, said the safe operation of TBM No. 1 shows that Vietnamese engineers and contractors are increasingly capable of mastering advanced underground construction technologies with support from foreign partners. He added that the achievement strengthens FECON’s track record in major infrastructure projects.
The Nhon–Hanoi Station metro line is one of Hanoi’s key transport projects, expected to ease congestion, improve public transit and enhance the capital’s urban environment. Work on the underground section is being carried out with a focus on safety, quality and maintaining progress toward planned milestones.
