High-speed rail from downtown HCMC to outlying Can Gio to break ground in Nov
The high-speed rail linking downtown Ho Chi Minh City with the outlying former Can Gio district in southern Vietnam is set to start construction in November, with completion expected 30 months later.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, general director of VinSpeed High-Speed Rail Investment and Development JSC – the project’s investor, released the information at a seminar on green transportation connecting the city center with Can Gio, held by the HCMC Institute for Development Studies on Friday.

Illustration of the high-speed rail linking downtown Ho Chi Minh City with the outlying former Can Gio district. Photo courtesy of VinSpeed.
VinSpeed was established in May with billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong - chairman of Vietnam’s leading private conglomerate Vingroup (HoSE: VIC) - holding a 51% stake, and his two sons, Pham Nhat Minh Hoang and Pham Nhat Quan Anh, each owning 0.5%.
The above-said project will be Vietnam’s first privately funded high-speed rail line, expected to become a new symbol of HCMC and offer residents and visitors a 350 km/h travel experience.
At the seminar, Le Van Khoa, technical director at VinSpeed, added that Vingroup is building a green ecosystem, with railway infrastructure, particularly high-speed rail, playing a key role.
According to VinSpeed’s study, the 48.5-kilometer high-speed rail line will cut travel time to just 16 minutes. Between 2030 and 2050, trains are expected to run every 12 minutes.
The line will have two stations - Tan Thuan at the starting point, located on the median of Nguyen Van Linh Street, and Can Gio at the terminus, on a 39-hectare site adjacent to the Can Gio sea encroachment tourism-urban area.
Each train will consist of eight carriages, with a capacity of 600-800 passengers.
Khoa emphasized that VinSpeed aims to implement the project entirely with private capital, without using state funding, to streamline procedures and accelerate progress.
For the Can Gio rail bridge, Khoa said, it would be developed independently from the current Can Gio bridge project, designed as a cable-stayed structure meeting railway standards and providing sufficient clearance.
Apart from Vuong and his sons, the shareholder structure of Vinspeed includes Vingroup with a 10% stake, Vietnam Investment Group JSC holding 35%, and Pham Thuy Hang – vice chairwoman of Vingroup – with 3%.
Vuong made two capital contributions to the company in June and July, transferring a total of 135.6 million VIC shares he owns. The stake was valued at around VND12.75 trillion ($487.44 million) at the time of transfer.
VinSpeed announced on the National Business Registration Portal in July that it has raised its capital from VND6 trillion to VND15 trillion ($569.26 million). The company’s shareholder structure remains unchanged.
In addition to the capital hike, VinSpeed is actively recruiting for such positions as project CFO, senior BIM (building information modeling) engineers, BIM department head, and senior technology transfer specialists.
The company said it is ramping up recruitment to advance two high-speed rail lines - Ho Chi Minh City-Can Gio, and Hanoi-Quang Ninh between the capital city and the northern province of Quang Ninh.
On May 14, VinSpeed also announced its registration to invest in the North-South high-speed railway project. The firm is awaiting the government’s investor approval.
On June 12, the National Assembly passed a resolution that reduces the country's number of provinces and cities from 63 to 34. Accordingly, HCMC was merged with industrial centers Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau to form the new HCMC.
After the merger, the new HCMC now spans more than 6,722 square kilometers and has a population of over 14 million. It comprises 168 commune-level administrative units, including 113 wards, 54 communes, and one special zone - Con Dao.
Experts said the merger paves the way for a closed-loop ecosystem of commerce, logistics, and manufacturing, capable of responding flexibly to both domestic demand and export markets.
- Read More
Indonesia resumes int’l carbon trading after 4-year hiatus
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has issued a new decree to restart international carbon emissions trading after a four-year hiatus.
Southeast Asia - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 9:23 pm GMT+7
Investors seek 2-year delay for $2.56 bln LNG power project in northern Vietnam, citing equipment hurdles
Investors of a $2.56 billion LNG-fired power plant in Hung Yen province have proposed delaying the project’s commercial operation schedule by two years due to difficulties securing key equipment.
Energy - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 9:04 pm GMT+7
Vietnam to soon raise taxpayers' personal deduction: official
The personal income tax deduction in Vietnam is "very likely" to increase to VND21.7 million ($823,940) per month, including VND15.5 million (588,530) for the taxpayer and VND6.2 million ($235,410) for each dependent.
Finance - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 6:25 pm GMT+7
Business confidence climbs as reforms gain traction amid global headwinds: EuroCham Vietnam
The index climbed to 66.5, surpassing pre-tariffs level and reaching its highest in three years – showcasing resilience and adaptability amid global headwinds and evolving U.S. tariff pressures.
Economy - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 4:36 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's stock market watchdog suspends two Grant Thornton auditors
Vietnam's State Securities Commission (SSC) has suspended two auditors from Grant Thornton Vietnam after determining that the 2024 audited financial statements of Saigon Water Infrastructure Corporation (HoSE: SII) failed to meet required standards.
Finance - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 3:35 pm GMT+7
Law No. 56 a major policy breakthrough for Vietnam's stock market development
The Law No. 56, effective January 1, 2025, is one of the major legal breakthroughs in recent years that will enhance the transparency and operational efficiency of the Vietnamese stock market.
Finance - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 2:30 pm GMT+7
WHA Group breaks ground on smart technology industrial zone in central Vietnam
Thailand's WHA Group on Tuesday broke ground on a world-class, modern, and environmentally friendly industrial zone in central Vietnam, namely the WHA Smart Technology Industrial Zone-Thanh Hoa.
Real Estate - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 2:00 pm GMT+7
Vietnam a key partner in Murphy Oil’s global strategy: exec
Vietnam remains a key partner in Murphy Oil’s global business strategy, said Eric Hambly, the U.S. corporation's president and CEO.
Companies - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 12:06 pm GMT+7
VNPT, Qualcomm debut Vietnam’s 1st original design-based excellence center
State-owned Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and Qualcomm have officially launched the VNPT-Qualcomm Excellence Center (VQEC), the first facility in the country to operate under an original design co-development model using Qualcomm’s core technologies.
Companies - Thu, October 16, 2025 | 8:41 am GMT+7
Indonesia enjoys steady growth in nine months
Indonesia's Ministry of Finance on Tuesday announced the country’s 2025 budget performance as of September, reporting that Southeast Asia’s largest economy continued to post steady growth despite global economic uncertainties.
Southeast Asia - Wed, October 15, 2025 | 9:53 pm GMT+7
Malaysia on progressive path towards AI nation status: experts
Malaysia is on a progressive track towards becoming an Artificial Intelligence (AI) nation by 2030, a goal seen as achievable under Budget 2026 - the Malaysian Government’s fiscal and policy framework for 2026.
Southeast Asia - Wed, October 15, 2025 | 9:44 pm GMT+7
Thailand steps up development of semiconductor industry
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) plans to propose a new national semiconductor and advanced electronics policy board to the government, which will spearhead Thailand’s semiconductor development strategy.
Southeast Asia - Wed, October 15, 2025 | 9:40 pm GMT+7
ASEAN sets ambitious energy targets
Senior energy officials from ASEAN member nations and Timor-Leste on Tuesday convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to finalize key outcomes and policy recommendations to be submitted to the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM).
Southeast Asia - Wed, October 15, 2025 | 9:33 pm GMT+7
Sun Group gets nod for $375 mln inland waterway tourism project in central Vietnam
A subsidiary of Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s leading real estate developers, has received approval to invest VND9.88 trillion ($375 million) in an inland waterway tourism project in the central coastal city of Danang.
Industries - Wed, October 15, 2025 | 5:21 pm GMT+7
Vietnamese luxury car dealer Haxaco’s business slumps, stock nears two-year low
The operations of Hang Xanh Automobile Service JSC or Haxaco (HoSE: HAX), known as the largest distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Vietnam, are under pressure as consumers tighten spending and competition among car brands intensifies.
Companies - Wed, October 15, 2025 | 5:13 pm GMT+7
Vietnam sets 2026 GDP growth target at 10%
The Vietnamese Government has set the targets for economic expansion in 2026 at about 10% and inflation at 4.5%.
Economy - Wed, October 15, 2025 | 4:28 pm GMT+7