On June 22, construction officially commenced in Hanoi on five new metro lines spanning over 300 km. This marks the largest urban railway infrastructure development program in the history of Vietnam's capital, with a total investment of approximately US$52 billion.
The projects encompass metro lines No. 1, No. 2, No. 8, No. 10, and No. 14. The general contractor for design, equipment supply, and construction is a joint venture between Vinhomes and VinSpeed. Hanoi authorities expect to complete all five lines by 2030. Each new line plays a distinct role in the capital's transportation system.
Line No. 1 (81 km) will run from Thuong Tin, passing through Tam Hung, Thuong Phuc, Dan Hoa, Ngoc Hoi, Hanoi Railway Station, and Yen Vien, to Noi Bai International Airport. It will serve as a key north-south transportation axis, connecting the airport with the railway network and future high-speed expressways.
Line No. 2 (56.5 km) will connect Noi Bai Airport with the central and southern districts of the capital via Tran Hung Dao, Thuong Dinh, Thuong Tin, Tam Hung, and Thuong Phuc. The primary objective of this route is to ensure convenient connectivity between the airport and Hanoi's historic center.
Line No. 8 (91 km) will be the longest in the project. The route will run from Hoa Lac — Son Dong — Mai Dich — Ring Road No. 3 — Linh Nam — Duong Sa. This line will form a crucial east-west transportation corridor, connecting Hoa Lac High-Tech Park with the capital's industrial and logistics zones.
Line No. 10 (43 km) is designed as a circular route: Dong Anh — Vo Chi Cong — Ring Road No. 3 — Ring Road No. 2.5 — Times City — Dong Anh. It is expected to improve transfers between metro lines and alleviate congestion in the city's central districts.
Line No. 14 (27 km) will connect the areas of Thang Long Bridge, Hong Ha, and Gia Lam. This route will strengthen transportation links between Hanoi's northern and eastern territories and support the development of new urban areas based on the "15-minute city" model.
According to city authorities, the new metro lines will form the foundation for implementing the TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) concept. This model involves the creation of new residential, business, and commercial clusters around public transport stations, reducing reliance on private vehicles, and more efficient use of urban land.
In preparation for construction, the joint venture between Vinhomes and VinSpeed has already engaged international consultants and technology providers from Europe and Asia. Modern tunnel boring machines and train control systems, compliant with international standards, will be utilized for the project implementation.
According to the capital's master development plan for 2021–2030, Hanoi intends to establish an urban railway network with a total length of approximately 979 km. By 2035, the city plans to construct around 500 km of metro lines, with the completion of the entire network scheduled for the period up to 2045.
For the real estate market, the launch of such a large-scale infrastructure program could become a key growth driver in areas like Dong Anh, Gia Lam, Thuong Tin, and Hoa Lac, which will fall within the influence zone of the new transportation corridors.