Hanoi Proposes Underground Urban Railway Route Near Hoan Kiem Lake

Vietnam, September 2026 — Hanoi authorities have proposed an underground urban railway route running south of Hoan Kiem Lake as part of broader plans to expand the capital’s urban rail network. The alignment is intended to serve the central area while limiting disruption to the historic district.

The proposal forms part of Hanoi’s wider strategy to develop an extensive underground urban railway system as the city seeks to address congestion and improve public transport capacity. Previous planning has included multiple underground metro lines connecting central districts with expanding urban areas.

Routing rail infrastructure underground in the Hoan Kiem area could help preserve the city’s surface environment while providing higher-capacity public transport through the central business and tourism district. The approach also reduces the need for extensive surface corridors in an area where road space and heritage considerations constrain major infrastructure development.

Hanoi is simultaneously pursuing broader urban railway expansion, with the capital targeting significant growth in its metro network over the coming decade. Vietnam is also developing transit-oriented development strategies around urban rail, linking new railway infrastructure with higher-density commercial and residential areas.

The proposed Hoan Kiem route highlights the increasing role of underground rail in Hanoi’s long-term mobility strategy. Developing central-city metro infrastructure could strengthen public transport capacity while supporting efforts to manage congestion and integrate rail more closely with the capital’s wider urban development plans.

Source: The Star