Hanoi breaks ground on metro line tunneling beneath Old Quarter

The line, which will have ten stations—two elevated and eight underground—will pass beneath some of the most iconic streets in Hanoi, including Hang Giay, Dong Xuan, Hang Duong, Hang Ngang, and Hang Dao.

The new line will feature ten trains, each with four carriages, designed to travel at 110 kph on elevated sections and 80 kph underground. It will traverse seven wards: Xuan Dinh, Nghia Do, Ngoc Ha, Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, and Cua Nam.

The Xuan Dinh Depot, covering 11.3 hectares, will serve as the line's maintenance, training, and operations center. It will be Hanoi’s first TOD (transit-oriented development) hub, integrating transportation, commerce, services, and mixed housing—aimed at fostering a new growth center in the city’s north.

The underground Hoan Kiem Lake Station will feature four levels and directly connect to a three-level underground complex beneath the eastern square and park by the lake. This station is envisioned as a core component of Hanoi’s TOD model in its historic center, combining transit, public space, and cultural heritage.

With a total investment of nearly VND35.68 trillion (US$1.4 billion), funded through Japanese official development aid and Hanoi's counterpart budget, the project is expected to be completed and operational by 2029.

According to the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board, the Nam Thang Long–Tran Hung Dao metro line is crucial to the capital's metro network, which is planned to consist of 15 lines. The new line will link Ba Dinh Ward—the center of government offices—with the Old Quarter, a historic and cultural hub, and connect with three other lines.

Looking ahead, the line is slated to extend to Noi Bai International Airport in the next phase, establishing a major public transport corridor that will enhance trade, tourism, and economic growth in Hanoi.

As part of its transport master plan through 2030, Hanoi aims to complete eight metro lines and sections totaling about 130 kilometers, including 92 km elevated and 38 km underground. Once fully operational, the metro network is expected to handle 25–30% of the city’s public transport demand, equivalent to about 3 million daily trips. The network is expected to alleviate congestion, reduce emissions, and contribute to Hanoi’s goal of becoming a green, carbon-neutral city.

Hanoi now operates two metro lines: the Cat Linh–Ha Dong, which began service in 2021, and the elevated section of the Nhon–Hanoi Railway Station, which started commercial operations in August 2024, with its underground section still under construction.