Vietnam targets Q2/2026 contractor selection for North-South high-speed railway

Vietnam aims to select contractors for its flagship North-South high-speed railway project in the second quarter of 2026, as preparatory work gathers pace, the Ministry of Construction said.

The ministry has approved tasks related to forest land-use conversion and environmental impact assessments. Consultants are finalizing bidding plans and tender documents for survey and feasibility study packages, expected to be completed by March to enable contractor selection in the following quarter.

Authorities across all 15 localities along the route, together with state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN), have actively reviewed land clearance requirements, relocated power infrastructure, and developed resettlement areas to keep the project on schedule.

Meanwhile, the Thang Long Project Management Board has been tasked with completing tender documents to appoint consultants for the feasibility study, also targeted for the second quarter.

Progress is also advancing on the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway line, whose construction began in December 2025. Work is underway at five stations, namely Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Bac Hong, Luong Tai and Hai Duong Nam.

Contractor selection has largely kept pace with the project schedule. All five consultancy packages in the investment preparation phase have been completed, along with six of 12 packages in the project implementation phase. The remaining six - three construction and three supervision consultancy packages - are being carried out alongside Sub-project 2.

Regarding technical design, five of 21 stations have approved design documents, while the remainder are under survey, expected to be completed by June 2026 to support construction.

For Sub-project 2 (railway construction), the ministry has selected contractors for 14 of 16 consultancy packages in the investment preparation phase. The remaining two packages, covering finalization of the feasibility study and legal advisory services, are expected to be completed in March.

Selection procedures are also underway for eight packages in the project implementation phase, with priority given to survey and technical design contracts.

The initial feasibility study report is expected to be available by the end of March 2026. It will be followed by internal appraisal by Vietnamese and Chinese authorities in April, completion of documentation in May, and a joint appraisal in June before submission for approval.

Technical design work is being fast-tracked. By April 2026, contracts with a Vietnam-China consultancy consortium are expected to be signed. Several sections, especially those passing through Hanoi and intersecting with the road project connecting to Gia Binh International Airport in Bac Ninh province, will be prioritized to allow early construction start by late 2026 in preparation for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2027.

Land clearance is ongoing, coordinated by local authorities and EVN, including the relocation of power facilities of 110kV and above. The ministry is expected to hand over site clearance documents to localities by the end of March 2026.

Approved by the National Assembly on November 30, 2024, the North-South high-speed rail project will stretch 1,541 kilometers from Ngoc Hoi Station (Hanoi) to Thu Thiem Station (Ho Chi Minh City), passing through 15 provinces and cities after recent administrative reorganizations.

Designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h, the dual-track railway will use standard gauge (1,435 mm) and accommodate 23 passenger stations and five freight stations.

While primarily focused on passenger transport, the line will also be equipped for dual-use purposes, including national defense and emergency freight capacity. The project will use public investment capital and be implemented in phases, with feasibility studies beginning in 2025 and targeted completion by 2035.

According to the parliament's resolution, the route is estimated to cost VND1,700 trillion ($67 billion).

In other news, the Hanoi-Quang Ninh high-speed railway project, developed by VinSpeed - part of the Vingroup ecosystem, is set to break ground next month.

The groundbreaking ceremony for a high-speed railway linking Hanoi with Quang Ninh province - home to the UNESCO world heritage site Ha Long Bay - will take place on April 12, at the construction site of Ha Long Xanh Station, located in Tuan Chau and Viet Hung wards.

The Hanoi-Quang Ninh high-speed railway will feature a double-track, standard-gauge (1,435mm), electrified line. The total length is 120 kilometers, with a maximum designed speed of 350 km/h. The line will start at Co Loa Station in Hanoi and end at the Tuan Chau public park area in Tuan Chau ward, Quang Ninh province.

The route will include five stations: Co Loa, Gia Binh, Ninh Xa, Yen Tu, and Ha Long Xanh, along with one depot at Ha Long Xanh Station in Tuan Chau ward.

The total investment for the project is estimated at VND147.37 trillion ($5.6 billion), excluding about VND10.27 trillion in land clearance and compensation costs, which will be covered by the state budget.

Once operational in 2028, the railway will cut travel time between Hanoi and Quang Ninh to about 23 minutes, helping meet growing travel demand and serving as a new backbone corridor linking the capital with major economic and tourism hubs, thereby promoting broader regional development.