HCMC – Vietnam plans to begin work by the end of 2026 on a high-speed railway connecting the north and the south of the nation, one year earlier than originally planned.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed ministries to complete all procedures and propose policies to accelerate the project. The Ministry of Construction will submit a proposal in April to allow direct contractor appointments, which will be considered by the National Assembly in May.
The 1,541-kilometer rail line is a key part of Vietnam’s long-term transport infrastructure development strategy.
The North-South high-speed railway will feature a dual-track system with a 1,435mm gauge, designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. It will connect Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi City in the north and Thu Thiem Station in HCMC in the south, passing through 20 provinces and centrally governed cities.
The Government also said construction of the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Haiphong railway will begin in December this year. The Ministry of Finance is tasked with forming an appraisal council this month. Vietnam will negotiate a framework agreement with China by May and sign a loan deal by November.
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc will lead discussions with China to secure concessional financing.
The Ministry of Construction has been asked to prepare for additional railway lines connecting Hanoi to Lang Son and Haiphong to Mong Cai.
In Hanoi and HCMC, authorities must finalize plans for urban railway projects and identify funding sources by May. Both cities will also contribute to the development of the domestic railway industry.
Vietnam Railways Corporation will be allowed to raise its charter capital. It will work with partners to draft plans for a railway industrial complex to support upcoming projects.
The Government instructed local authorities and Vietnam Electricity Group to prepare funding and land clearance plans. Land around railway stations will be used to raise capital.
The Ministry of Finance will review the Hanoi Metro Line 3 project and assess a proposal to shift HCMC Metro Line 2 away from official development assistance.
Between April and June, ministries will draft regulations, develop human resource plans, and assign Viettel and VNPT to support railway signaling and IT systems.
