Vietnam Delays US$67 Billion North–South High-Speed Rail Project

Vietnam, September 2026 — Vietnam has delayed the planned start of construction of its North–South high-speed railway to December 2027, one year later than previously targeted. Construction Minister Tran Hong Minh attributed the delay to implementation progressing more slowly than expected, alongside objective factors affecting project preparation.

The proposed railway will extend approximately 1,541 kilometres from Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi to Thu Thiem Station in Ho Chi Minh City, passing through 15 cities and provinces. Designed for speeds of up to 350 kmph, the project has an estimated investment of US$67.34 billion and is intended to significantly improve long-distance connectivity along Vietnam’s main north–south economic corridor.

Site clearance remains among the key preparation requirements as Vietnam works toward the revised construction schedule. The government is continuing preparatory activities while seeking to accelerate implementation of the major public-investment project.

Once completed, the railway is expected to reduce travel time between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to approximately 5.5 hours, substantially improving passenger connectivity between Vietnam’s political capital and its largest economic centre.

The revised timeline highlights the scale of challenges involved in delivering major high-speed rail infrastructure, particularly where extensive land acquisition, multi-province coordination and large public investment are required. Despite the delay, the project remains a central component of Vietnam’s long-term strategy to modernise its national transport network and strengthen north–south connectivity.

Source: The Star