Vietnam aims to break ground on the first two sections of the North-South high-speed railway by the end of 2027. According to a pre-feasibility report by the Ministry of Transport, the project will be built between Hanoi-Vinh and Nha Trang-Ho Chi Minh. Vinh and Nha Trang are the capitals of Nghe An and Khanh Hoa provinces, respectively.
Project Phases and Cost
The total length of the high-speed railway project is 1.541 km and its cost is expected to be around $67,34 billion. The project will primarily serve passenger transport and will have light-duty capacity when needed. In addition, work on the third section of the project from Vinh to Nha Trang is planned to begin in 2028-2029, with the entire project targeted for completion in 2035.
Features of the Line and Stations
The line has a design speed of 350 km/h and will include 23 passenger and five cargo stations connected to major cargo hubs. The railway will run from Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi to Thu Thiem Station in Ho Chi Minh City, passing through 20 provinces and cities.
Financing and Collaborations
The Ministry of Transport is proposing various sources of financing for the project, including the central budget, government bonds and local government contributions. The project will also include a tender process in 2025-2026 to select international consultants. It has also been reported that countries such as Japan, China and South Korea have shown interest in participating in the mega project. The Vietnamese government has proposed borrowing from its Japanese and South Korean counterparts to provide financing.
With this project, Vietnam's transportation infrastructure will undergo significant development and is expected to contribute to the country's socio-economic development.
