Vietnam eyes to begin high-speed rail construction in 2026

By Vu Tuan April 6, 2025 | 03:22 am PT

Bullet train Tohoku Shinkansen pictured in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan on March 12, 2025. Photo by AFP

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the Ministry of Construction to expedite procedures to commence construction of the North-South high-speed railway project by the end of next year.

The PM wants the bidding mechanism to be completed this month so the National Assembly can review for approval next month, according to a government release on Saturday.

This would push the construction date one year earlier than the original plan.

The railway, one of Vietnam’s most ambitious transportation projects in this decade, was approved for investment by the National Assembly in November last year with a preliminary cost of approximately VND1.7 quadrillion (US$67 billion).

The 1,541-km route will start at in Hanoi and end in Ho Chi Minh City, passing through 20 localities.

It will be designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. It includes 23 passenger stations and 5 freight stations.

The government also eyes to start building the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Lang Son railway in December. It will be a key project linking the capital with China-bordering provinces.

Concerning another northern rail project, Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong, officials are set to negotiate with their Chinese counterparts next month and a loan agreement is expected to be signed in November.

The government has also tasked Hanoi and HCMC with reviewing their plans to build and acquire loans for more metro routes.