Hanoi (VNA) - The planned North–South high-speed railway is poised to shrink distance between localities, ease infrastructure pressure on overburdened cities, and drive the next wave of economic growth.
For more than a century, Vietnam’s railway infrastructure has remained largely unchanged since its original construction under French colonial rule. In an era of modern transit systems, this legacy has left Vietnam’s railways with an increasingly marginal role in passenger and freight transport, overshadowed by road and air.
Therefore, the Party and the State have identified the investment in constructing the North–South high-speed railway as a strategic objective, laying the groundwork for Vietnam to become a developed, high-income nation, comparable to many others around the world.
“On 30 November 2024, the National Assembly approved the investment policy for the North–South high-speed railway project. This is a historic milestone for the railway sector, affirming the role and importance of rail transport in the country’s development,” stressed Hoang Gia Khanh, General Director of Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR).
Khanh has spent his career in rail transport, rising from train operations to the helm of the national railway company. To see the travel time reduced from over 30 hours to just 5 hours and 30 minutes captures the spirit of renewal the sector has been striving for, according to Khanh.
Despite the end of war nearly five decades ago, no new railway line in Vietnam has been built to modern, commercial standards, he noted. Most of the country’s 1,000mm gauge, single-track lines are a legacy of colonial engineering.
Bui Xuan Phong, former Chairman of the Vietnam Railway Economics and Transport Association, said the North–South high-speed railway is a project for the future. It also serves as a “lifeline” for the existing 1,700km-long North–South railway – now over a century old, severely degraded, outdated, and frequently paralysed during the rainy season.
Nguyen Xuan Thuy, former Director of the Transport Publishing House, shared optimism that the 23 stations along the future North–South high-speed railway will open up new spaces and development opportunities for localities.
“Around these stations, new urban areas and industrial zones will take shape, based on local planning strategies, enabling more effective use of land resources,” he noted.
Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Danh Huy affirmed that the high-speed railway line offers the advantages of large-volume, fast, reliable, and convenient transport. It will also play a key role in shortening the distance between regions, helping to ease the pressure of population concentration and overloaded infrastructure in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The official said investing in the high-speed railway line will create a construction market worth about 33.5 billion USD. If the national railway and urban railway systems are included, the total value could reach 75.6 billion USD, along with the creation of millions of jobs. With appropriate technology transfer, Vietnam has the potential to develop a modern domestic railway industry.
The development of high-speed rail is a foundational step for the growth of the railway industry and supporting industries, Huy assessed.
For VNR General Director Khanh, the railway remains one of the most vital forms of transportation. In comparison to other modes, rail offers a unique combination of high freight capacity, operational efficiency, reliable safety standards, and moderate costs. By 2050, demand for freight transport along the North–South corridor is projected to exceed 18.2 million tonnes per year, while passenger transport could reach a staggering 122.7 million journeys annually.
Khanh recommended that in addition to constructing the new high-speed line, continued investment in upgrading the existing railway network remains essential, particularly for heavy industries and specialised freight such as liquefied gases and petroleum.
The high-speed railway will primarily serve passenger transport, but will also support freight services when required, he added.
According to Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh, the Government aims to submit a feasibility study to the Prime Minister by the fourth quarter of 2026. Following approval, the process of selecting contractors will commence, with ground expected to be broken on the project by late 2027./.
