Vietnam, November 2026 – Hanoi has proposed developing Gia Lam Railway Station as a major interchange linking national railways, high-speed rail and the urban metro network. The proposal was discussed on 9 November at a meeting chaired by Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang, involving the Ministry of Construction and neighbouring local authorities.
Under the proposed arrangement, a railway connection would be studied from Gia Lam Station to Gia Binh International Airport in neighbouring Bac Ninh Province. The route is intended to shorten travel distances between the airport and Hanoi while providing passengers with access to the wider railway network. Authorities are also examining the possibility of extending the connection to Noi Bai International Airport, potentially creating a direct rail link between the two airports.
For Hanoi's urban railway network, the city proposes retaining the planned north-south alignment of Metro Line 1 while studying an additional branch from the Gia Lam area towards central Hanoi and eastwards to Gia Binh Airport. This approach would make use of existing railway plans and minimise major changes to projects that have already received approval or entered construction.
The Ministry of Construction has set a target of reducing rail travel times between central Hanoi and the airports to approximately 30–45 minutes. Officials have suggested considering direct airport train services with fewer intermediate stops, alongside railway stations located within airport premises to simplify transfers between rail and air transport. The proposed connections would need to be coordinated with national, interregional and urban railway plans.
The urgency of the proposal is linked to the development of Gia Binh International Airport, which has received investment policy approval from Vietnam's National Assembly and is expected to be completed in 2027. Hanoi has been instructed to coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and neighbouring provinces to finalise an integrated airport railway connectivity plan and submit it to the Government in November 2026.
Source: VnEconomy
Hanoi Proposes Gia Lam Station as Strategic Rail Hub for Airport Connectivity
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Hanoi is exploring a railway interchange at Gia Lam Station to connect Gia Binh International Airport with the capital’s national and urban rail networks. The proposal could also enable a direct rail connection between Gia Binh and Noi Bai airports, strengthening regional transport integration and reducing passenger transfers.
