HCMC – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged ministries to expedite preparations for the development of a big-ticket high-speed railway that links the north and the south of the nation as it is strategically important to Vietnam’s long-term growth.
Speaking at a Government meeting today, October 5, Chinh stressed the need for relevant ministries and agencies to prepare resources and finalize a proposal for submission to the Party Central Committee and the National Assembly.
The cross-country rail line, stretching 1,541 kilometers from Hanoi to HCMC, is expected to require a total of US$67.34 billion. It will have 23 passenger cars and five freight cars, and can operate at a maximum speed of 350 km per hour.
The Ministry of Transport is slated to submit the investment proposal to the National Assembly in October, with construction beginning in late 2027 on the Hanoi–Vinh and HCMC–Nha Trang sections.
Work on the 899-kilometer double track from Vinh to Nha Trang is expected to begin before 2030. The entire line is scheduled for completion by 2035.
The meeting also discussed railway projects connecting Vietnam with China, including the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong, Lang Son-Hanoi, and Mong Cai-Ha Long-Haiphong lines.
