Vietnam's Ministry of Construction has approved revisions to the national railway network master plan through 2050, giving priority to new cross-border rail links with China, Laos and Cambodia alongside improved domestic connectivity.
A North-South train service (Photo: Nguyen Hai).
The revised plan, approved by Deputy Construction Minister Nguyen Danh Huy, covers the 2021-2030 period with a long-term vision extending to 2050.
Vietnam's national railway network currently consists of seven lines with a combined length of about 2,510km. Six routes are scheduled for investment before 2030: the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City line (1,726km), Hanoi-Lao Cai (296km), Hanoi-Haiphong (102km), Hanoi-Thai Nguyen (55km), Hanoi-Lang Son (167km) and Kep-Ha Long-Cai Lan (108km). The 56km Kep-Luu Xa line is planned for development after 2030.
The revised master plan also calls for the construction of 10 new railway lines before and after 2030.
In northern Vietnam, four new routes are planned: Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong (363km), Hanoi-Dong Dang (156km), Haiphong-Ha Long-Mong Cai (187km), and the eastern Hanoi ring railway between Ngoc Hoi and Kim Son (31km).
In the south, the proposed lines include Bien Hoa-Vung Tau (132km), Ho Chi Minh City-Loc Ninh (128km), Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho-Ca Mau (320km), and An Binh-Sai Gon-Tan Kien (33km).
Central Vietnam is set to gain two new routes: Vung Ang-Mu Gia (105km) and Thap Cham-Dalat (84km).
A further six railway projects are earmarked for investment after 2030. These include the Danang-Quang Ngai-Gia Lai-Dak Lak-Lam Dong-Dong Nai corridor (555km), Ninh Binh-Hung Yen-Haiphong (64km), the western Hanoi ring railway between Ngoc Hoi and Thach Loi (54km), Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai (61km), My Thuy-Lao Bao (114km), and Thai Nguyen-Tuyen Quang-Lao Cai (73km).
The master plan also identifies two high-speed rail projects. The 1,541km North-South high-speed railway will be developed in phases before and after 2030, while the Hanoi-Quang Ninh high-speed line is scheduled for construction before 2030.
The revised strategy places particular emphasis on railways that strengthen regional and international connectivity. Priority projects include the Ninh Binh-Hung Yen-Haiphong coastal route, the Haiphong-Ha Long-Mong Cai line linking China, the Thai Nguyen-Tuyen Quang-Lao Cai corridor, the My Thuy-Lao Bao route connecting Laos, and the Ho Chi Minh City-Tay Ninh line, which is intended to provide a future rail connection with Cambodia.