Construction of Vietnam’s first 350 km/h high-speed rail line to begin shortly

Vietnam is set to officially begin construction of its first high-speed rail line this coming weekend. According to various local and state media reports, the groundbreaking ceremony for one of the two Vinspeed projects is scheduled for April 12, 2026. High-speed trains from Siemens Mobility, with a design speed of 350 km/h, are expected to eventually transport passengers across the northern part of the country.

At approximately 121 km, the first project is also the longer of the two. It is intended to run from the capital, Hanoi — the country's second-largest city — to the coastal city of Ha Long. Travel time is projected to be just 23 minutes, though this appears to be a calculated figure that does not account for braking and acceleration. Some sources even mention a duration of 20 minutes.

For comparison: the Whoosh line in Indonesia, also designed for 350 km/h and based on Chinese CRRC trainsets, takes 47 minutes for 140 km, including a three-minute stop in Padalarang. Based on our experience, these trainsets have strong acceleration and actually reach 350 km/h in practice. Based on the Whoosh system experience, we expect a longer travel time.

Nevertheless, these durations are in a range that is virtually impossible to achieve via private transport or the existing rail network. Furthermore, the line is intended to be built within a very short timeframe. Some reports indicate that the new rail link could go into operation as early as 2028. According to an older report by the Italian news agency Agenzia Nova, compensation for expropriations will amount to 12.8 billion VND. This is equivalent to just over 400,000 euros.

Vietnam needs experience in railway construction

Through this first project, Vietnam will also gain vital experience in the construction of electric railways. The country currently has a deficit in this area, as it only operates a meter-gauge rail network that has not been electrified. However, Vietnam has since succeeded in putting subway systems into operation in its two largest cities. In the south, assistance was sourced from Japan, while in the north, aid came from China.

The state's ultimate goal is to equip the north and south with an entirely new high-speed line. However, Vinspeed, as part of Vingroup, withdrew from the project at the end of December 2025, as reported by the news agency Reuters at the time. The withdrawal came shortly after the announcement of a collaboration with Siemens on the two smaller high-speed rail (HSR) projects.

Regarding the large-scale project for the entire country, the YouTube channel B1M recently released a video outlining the general plans. While the two smaller projects are not included in the video, it provides insight into the scale of Vietnam's ambitions to establish a complete high-speed system, following the lead of nearby Japan, South Korea, and China.