High-speed railway to surpass planes as Vietnam's top travel option

Reader Quanghai said: "The north-south high-speed railway can compete against planes in every way, offering a travel time of just 5.5 hours from Hanoi to HCMC, with tickets priced at only 75% of airfare.

"If completed, the north-south high-speed railway could become the top choice for travelers moving between the northern, central, and southern provinces. Its convenience far outpaces current options like planes, buses, and traditional trains."

The proposed railway will span 1,541 kilometers (957.5 miles), crossing 20 provinces and cities. With a design speed of 350 km/h (about 217 mph), it would cut travel time between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to 5.5 hours, which is six times faster than conventional trains. The estimated ticket price, between VND1.7 million to 6.9 million (US$67 to US$271.6), is projected to be around 75% of airfares for the same route.

The proposed north-south high-speed railway has garnered excitement and high expectations from readers, who view it as a game-changer for travel across Vietnam, providing a fast, comfortable, and cost-effective alternative to air travel.

Reader JimmyTeo is optimistic about the railway's potential: "Currently, a regular train trip from HCMC to Nha Trang takes up to 10 hours (from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day), which explains why few people choose it. This is long enough for someone with a car to make the same trip and return. The current train service can't compete with other transportation methods in terms of time or cost.

"But if the high-speed railway works as intended, I believe it could compete well with other means of transport. The existing railway should perhaps focus solely on freight transport."

Reader Pham Xuan Hien highlights the railway’s advantages over air travel: "If traveling from HCMC to central Vietnam takes only 2 to 2.5 hours, that’s much better than flying, with no need to worry about delays. High-speed trains offer comparable comfort to planes and are much safer, so they’re likely to gain strong support."

Another reader, Minhduccasvina, shared a personal perspective: "I am from central Vietnam and moved to HCMC for work. Hearing about the investment in the north-south high-speed railway project made me very happy because it will shorten my travel time whenever I visit family back home. It's truly promising news."