Vietnam expects to begin construction on the North-South high-speed railway in December 2027. On September 9, 2026, the Ministry of Construction discussed the progress of project preparations and instructed officials to draft a detailed implementation plan and ensure key milestones are met.
Spanning approximately 1,541 km, the project will pass through 15 cities and provinces—from the Ngoc Hoi station in Hanoi to the Thu Thiem station in Ho Chi Minh City. The trains are designed to reach speeds of up to 350 km/h.
Total investment is estimated at $67.34 billion. Upon completion, travel time between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is expected to be reduced to approximately 5.5 hours.
The project is currently in the preparatory stage. A consultancy contract has already been signed, feasibility study documents are being formulated, and procedures are underway to select consultants for surveys, environmental assessments, and documentation preparation.
The Ministry of Construction also reported that a significant portion of the work on the regulatory framework, technical standards, and cost-estimating norms has already been completed for the project. This is expected to allow the transition to subsequent phases without additional delays.
The railway will become one of the largest infrastructure projects in Vietnam's history. In addition to cutting travel times between the country's major cities, it is designed to connect economic hubs and the regions along the new route.
For Vietnam, the project is significant not only from a transportation perspective. The new rail infrastructure could transform regional connectivity, accelerate the movement of people and freight, and impact urban development along the route.