Why Vietnam’s proposed high-speed railway won’t extend entire length of country

Vietnam's ambitious high-speed railway project, designed to serve the primary long-distance route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, is spurring discussions about potential extensions to Lang Son in the north and Ca Mau in the south. Spanning 1,541 kilometers and crossing 20 localities, the line is a major infrastructure undertaking. However, the TEDI-TRICC-TEDI SOUTH consortium responsible for the project argues that high-speed rail’s high cost and capacity requirements mean it’s most suitable for longer routes, with planned speeds of 250 kph or more.

A 2021 railway network planning scheme endorsed by the Prime Minister already outlines alternative lines for Lang Son and Ca Mau. This includes a Lang Son-Hanoi line in the north and an HCMC-Can Tho line in the south, in areas where waterways and existing transportation infrastructures reduce the need for additional high-speed rail. Southern Vietnam’s well-developed waterways and the ongoing North-South expressway from Can Tho to Ca Mau are expected to fulfill regional transportation needs effectively.

The design also deliberately bypasses northeastern provinces like Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. The consortium notes that short-haul demand from these regions to Hanoi, usually under 200 kilometers, is more efficiently met by conventional trains and roads.

To address connectivity in these areas, plans include the development of the Hanoi-Hai Phong line by 2030 and a Nam Dinh-Thai Binh-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh coastal line by 2050, both of which will integrate with the high-speed railway. By 2030, the national network will add nine new railways covering 2,362 kilometers, expanding to 25 lines totaling 6,354 kilometers by 2050. This comprehensive expansion will bolster Vietnam’s railway capacity, serving both long-haul and regional travel needs across the country.