HCMC – The My Thuan Project Management Board has put forward a pre-feasibility study for the 175-kilometer HCMC–Can Tho railway, with the project expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration in the fourth quarter of 2025 and construction slated to start in 2027.
According to the board’s website, the pre-feasibility report has been sent to the Ministry of Construction for review. Under the proposal, the first phase would be developed between 2027 and 2035, while the second phase is scheduled for launch in 2055.
The rail line will run from An Binh Station in Di An Ward, HCMC, to Can Tho Station in Hung Phu Ward, Can Tho City, passing through HCMC, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, and Can Tho.
Designed with a 1,435mm gauge and double-track system, the project will initially invest in a single electrified track to serve both passenger and cargo transport at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
The line will feature 12 main stations, four reserved stations, three depots in An Binh, Tan Kien, and Can Tho, and three infrastructure maintenance facilities.
It will also include five major bridges spanning the Saigon, Vam Co Dong, Vam Co Tay, Tien, and Hau rivers. Bridges will account for around 56% of the line’s total length.
The project is proposed to be financed entirely by the State budget, with an investment of some US$16.97 million per kilometer (over VND430 billion per kilometer). The project management board has also suggested applying a special mechanism to waive capital balance appraisal requirements under the Public Investment Law.
By 2040, the HCMC–Can Tho economic corridor is projected to see demand for around 140,000 passengers and 690,000 tons of cargo daily, far beyond the current capacity of road, air, and sea transport systems.
The HCMC–Can Tho railway is therefore considered a key solution to meet rising transport demand and strengthen connectivity between the southeastern region and the Mekong Delta.
