Vietnam’s first high-speed rail line is one of the most important infrastructure projects in the country’s recent history, playing a key role in modernizing the transportation network and strengthening connectivity between key regions in the north. The new line is not merely a rail project, but a structural shift in how Vietnam organizes its mobility and economic development.

The line will be built between Hanoi and the city of Halong, located in the northeastern province of Quảng Ninh, a route where transportation is currently carried out mainly by road, with high passenger volumes served by buses and private cars. The corridor handles tens of thousands of passengers daily, especially during tourist seasons. Last year, 12 million visitors traveled from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, and during the holiday season, the volume exceeds 1.1 million per day.

During peak traffic periods, bus stations in Hanoi serving Quảng Ninh alone can handle around 4,000–17,000 passengers per day at each major terminal, and the total flow toward the east, including Quảng Ninh, reaches tens of thousands of passengers daily, with increases of up to 300–400% during peak periods. The introduction of high-speed rail on this route will mark a major paradigm shift, significantly reducing travel time, increasing transport capacity, and shifting a significant portion of demand from roads to a fast, safe, and predictable rail infrastructure.

Construction of Vietnam’s first high-speed line was launched on April 12 by Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng.

The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc, former prime ministers, representatives of various ministries, central and local institutions, as well as representatives of investors and companies, such as Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility.

The high-speed line will be 120 km long and will connect Hanoi—Vietnam’s capital and the country’s second-largest city, located in the north on the right bank of the Red River—and the city of Halong in the northeastern province of Quảng Ninh.

Completion is expected by the end of 2028, and with a design speed of up to 350 km/h, the line will reduce travel time between the two locations by 5–7 times, down to approximately 23 minutes.

The project crosses four administrative units—Hanoi, Bắc Ninh, Hải Phòng, and Quảng Ninh—with a total length of 120.2 km. The line is designed as a double-track line with a standard gauge of 1,435 mm, fully electrified, and capable of speeds up to 350 km/h. On the Hanoi section, the maximum speed will be 120 km/h.

The Hanoi–Quảng Ninh high-speed railway project, approved as an investment by the People’s Committee of Quảng Ninh Province, is being carried out by VinSpeed, a subsidiary of Vingroup, as the main investor, with a total value of over 147 trillion Vietnamese dong (EUR 5.2 billion).

In addition, costs for land expropriation and clearance amount to approximately 10.27 trillion dong (EUR 365 million), funded from the state budget.

“Vingroup reaffirms its commitment to making a significant contribution to infrastructure development by gradually building a modern transportation system to international standards, thereby supporting socio-economic development and improving the quality of life for the people of Vietnam,” said Nguyễn Việt Quang, Vice Chairman of the Vingroup Group.

In December 2025, Siemens Mobility signed an agreement with VinSpeed High-Speed Railway Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, part of Vingroup, for the delivery and installation of products and technologies for Vietnam’s first high-speed line.

Siemens Mobility will supply Velaro Novo high-speed trains, as well as key subsystems including Level 2 ETCS, the Automatic Train Operation (ATO) system, and telecommunications and electrification systems.

VinSpeed, in partnership with Siemens Mobility, is also developing another high-speed line, Ben Thanh–Can Gio, spanning km with two stations, for which the German company will supply the same systems and subsystems.

The Velaro Novo trains are designed for speeds of 350 km/h and offer over 10% more capacity than other train models, with energy consumption reduced by 30%.

“Siemens Mobility will provide the best high-speed train technology, and we will also collaborate on technology transfer, train assembly, and maintenance to create a high-speed rail ecosystem in Vietnam,

transforming this line into a flagship project of cooperation between Vietnam and Germany for decades to come,” Michael Peter stated during the April 12 ceremony.

The project will utilize the newest and most modern generation of high-speed trains, along with state-of-the-art global communications, signaling, and equipment systems provided by Siemens Mobility, with the technology to be transferred to VinSpeed over time during operations.

The starting point of the line will be at Cổ Loa Station (Vietnam Exhibition Center, Hanoi), and the terminus at Hạ Long Station in Quảng Ninh. The route will include three intermediate transfer stations, as well as a depot located at the end of the line in Hạ Long.

According to the plan, the project will be completed and put into commercial operation in 2028, reducing travel time between Hanoi and Quảng Ninh by 5–7 times, from over 2 hours to approximately 23 minutes.

The project plays a key role in developing modern transportation infrastructure, boosting regional and interregional connectivity, particularly in the northern economic zone and the Red River Delta. “Vietnam’s first high-speed line” will create a high-speed transport corridor, reducing travel time, increasing connectivity, and generating economic development benefits.

More importantly, the project contributes to redefining the development landscape in a modern and synchronized manner, enabling provinces and cities to leverage their competitive advantages, form regionally integrated economic corridors and value chains, and enhance their competitiveness and international integration.