Vietnam high-speed railway should run beyond Hanoi, HCMC on either side: lawmakers

Vietnam’s mega North-South high-speed railway project should be redesigned and extended beyond Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as currently planned, several lawmakers have suggested.

At the ongoing National Assembly session Wednesday, deputy Nguyen Quoc Han from Ca Mau suggested that the rail route begins in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son and ends in his home province, which is the southernmost part of the country.

He said both the northern highlands and the Mekong Delta, where the provinces of Lang Son and Ca Mau are located, respectively, were areas with significant development potential.

However, challenging transportation conditions in these regions have hindered efforts to attract investors, Han noted, indicating that a high-speed railway line could address that shortcoming.

Echoing Han, Tran Hoa Ry, deputy from the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, said extending the route would promote local development, especially through tourism. However, if funding constraints are an issue, she recommended prioritizing an extension to Can Tho city in the Mekong Delta.

Phased execution, domestic funding

Citing limited resources, some lawmakers proposed phased construction of the proposed plan. The Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City section should be set for completion between 2025 and 2035, with the newly suggested remaining sections scheduled for 2030 to 2040, they elaborated.

Deputy Tran Hoang Ngan from HCMC noted that Vietnam was well-positioned to undertake the project, given its stable macroeconomic condition and low public debt.

He pointed out that, given the project's significant capital demands, it would be preferable to rely on domestic funding and foreign low-interest loans, while limiting the use of official development assistance (ODA).

Dual purpose

Deputy Hoang Van Cuong from Hanoi suggested that the high-speed railway should be designed for dual purposes, serving both passengers and freight.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring technology transfer to local contractors, which would enable Vietnam to have full control over construction, reduce the risk of delays and cost overruns, and decrease dependence on foreign suppliers.

He suggested limiting procurement to specific specialized components, such as locomotives and control systems.

Meanwhile, referring to the existing plan, Transport Minister Nguyen Van Thang informed the parliament that the project can break ground in 2027 and be completed by 2035 at an estimated cost of $67.34 billion.

Thang said loans would cover no more than 30% of the total project cost, and discussions were on to determine the preferability of local and ODA funding options.

According to a report prepared by the ministry, the currently planned North-South high-speed railway project will be 1,541 km long and have a designed speed of 350 km/hour. It will primarily serve passenger transportation and carry light cargo when needed.

The electrified 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 HCMC.

The ministry will prepare a pre-feasibility study report for the project in 2025-2026 after getting feedback from the ongoing parliament session.