On February 8, 2026, the Office of the Vietnamese Government issued a notice summarizing the conclusions of the meeting between the Standing Committee of the Government and the Guidance Committee for National Key Projects and Important Railway Projects. This document is like a military order, setting a clear timetable and operational roadmap for Vietnam's railway construction in the next decade.

The technical roadmap and partners are about to be locked in

The North South High Speed Railway Project is Vietnam's "Century Project", with a total length of approximately 1545 kilometers, connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour. Previously, the project had been put on hold for many years due to disputes over funding and technical routes.

At this meeting, it was clarified that the Ministry of Construction has fully absorbed the opinions of all parties and finally finalized the "Technology and Partner Selection Report". This report will determine which technology system Vietnam's high-speed rail will adopt and which country or group it will deeply bind with. The report will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the Government Party Committee before February 20, 2026, striving to complete the selection of feasibility study report consultants in the second quarter.

The Vietnamese government emphasizes that it will study investment methods that encourage large domestic enterprises to participate, while coordinating the interests of the country and enterprises to ensure a balance of interests. This means that local Vietnamese capital is expected to deeply participate in this mega project.

Accelerating the Promotion of the 'Economic Corridor' Connecting China

Vietnam has shown an unprecedented sense of urgency in the railway project connecting China.

Old Street Hanoi Haiphong Railway: The construction of the first part of the project (stations and connecting facilities) is accelerating. For the second part (railway main project), the Ministry of Construction has instructed the Project Management Committee to complete the feasibility study report no later than March 2026, approve the project in July 2026, and start construction of key projects in the third quarter. Meanwhile, negotiations on the agreement to build a railway bridge on the Vietnam China border will also take place in the first quarter of 2026.

Hanoi Lang Son and Hai Phong Mong Street railways: Vietnam's Ministry of Construction is accelerating the signing of a technical assistance agreement with China, with the goal of completing the planning by 2026. In addition, the People's Committee of Guangning Province has been designated as the management agency for the Mangjie Guangning Haiphong project, aimed at connecting transportation and economy, promoting tourism development, and trade with China.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are developing underground

In terms of urban rail transit, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are required to actively promote the construction of lines within their jurisdiction.

Hanoi: The Ø (Nh'n) - Hanoi Station (underground section), Wengao Huale Station, and Nanshenglong Chenxingdao Station routes are being promoted. Among them, the Wengao Huale Station line needs to be negotiated with the contractor to shorten the construction period and strive to be completed within 1 to 2 years.

Ho Chi Minh City: Focus on promoting the route connecting Long Thanh International Airport.

At the same time, the Vietnamese government urges the Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Science and Technology, and local authorities to study and release national technical standards for urban rail transit as soon as possible, ending the situation of "each building its own" and preparing for the unified standards of the national rail transit system.

Financial Security: The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Construction to accelerate the negotiation of the loan agreement in March 2026. At the same time, funds will be mobilized through multiple channels, including national budget funds (medium-term investment plan, issuance of government bonds, surplus of 5% of public investment expenditure in 2026 (approximately 50 trillion Vietnamese dong)) and borrowing funds.

Land acquisition and demolition: The local government and Vietnam Electric Power Group are urgently implementing compensation, resettlement, land clearance, and relocation of power infrastructure to clear the final obstacles for the substantial commencement of the project.Editor/Yang Meiling