PM requests construction on trans-Vietnam high-speed railway to begin in late 2026, a year ahead of schedule
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Construction to swiftly complete necessary procedures for the construction of Vietnam’s North-South high-speed railway by late 2026, one year earlier than initially planned.
Chinh also required the ministry to submit additional bidding mechanisms for the project to the government this month, enabling submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee and the National Assembly in May, the Government Office quoted the PM as announcing on Saturday.
High-speed trains in Thailand. Photo courtesy of Japan Times.
Chinh emphasized that the ministry must develop and submit mechanisms and policies to relevant authorities to accelerate the project's progress.
The North-South high-speed railway project, estimated to cost $67.34 billion, will have a designed speed of 350 km/hour. It will primarily serve passenger transportation and carry light cargo when needed, according to a report by the Ministry of Transport.
The electrified railway route will have 23 passenger and five cargo stations connected to key cargo hubs. It will begin at the Ngoc Hoi station in Hanoi and pass through 20 provinces and cities before ending at the Thu Thiem station in Ho Chi Minh City.
For the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Lang Son railway line in the northern region, PM Chinh set a deadline to begin construction this December.
Regarding the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway route, also in the north, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance are tasked with negotiating a framework agreement with China by May. A loan agreement is expected to be signed in November, subject to the approval of a feasibility study report.
Regarding urban metro lines, Hanoi and HCMC are required to review their implementation plans and propose capital mobilization strategies for each project. The finance ministry will report to the Prime Minister for approval of the Hanoi Station-Yen So (Hoang Mai district) section of Metro Line No. 3.
Additionally, the finance ministry is requested to provide feedback on the cessation of ODA funding and foreign preferential loans for the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong section of HCMC’s metro system.
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