During the visit, the delegation, led by Matt Western, the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, held working sessions with the Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi urban railway management authorities, as well as private-sector groups, to share the UK’s experience in designing and delivering rail infrastructure projects and to explore opportunities for deeper strategic cooperation in Vietnam’s rail sector.

As part of the programme, the Institute of Construction Economics under Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to develop a Building Information Modelling Centre of Excellence for railway projects in Vietnam.

Western said Vietnam is at a critical stage in its infrastructure development, as rapid economic growth and urbanisation are driving demand for sustainable, efficient and integrated transport systems.

He noted that railways and transit-oriented development play a central role not only in improving mobility but also in shaping cities, easing congestion, improving air quality and creating more livable urban communities.

The UK is supporting Vietnam through the Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to help deliver infrastructure aligned with international standards while advancing climate and sustainability goals, Western said.

Nguyen Cao Minh, head of Hanoi’s Metropolitan Railway Management Board, said 2025 marked a turning point as several new metro lines move from planning into active construction.

The UK’s extensive experience in integrating low-carbon solutions, managing complex infrastructure projects and applying BIM standards and digital transformation offers valuable lessons for Vietnam, Minh said.

During the visit, Western met Ho Chi Minh City Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Dung to discuss urban railway development, potential credit support packages and cooperation in areas including the International Financial Centre, education, health care, energy, technology and city-to-city partnerships with Liverpool.

The delegation also held meetings with Deputy Finance Minister Tran Quoc Phuong and State Bank of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City branch’s Deputy Director Tran Thi Ngoc Lien to discuss broader cooperation in developing and expanding an international financial centre in Vietnam.

Trade-related discussions, including the UK–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, were also held with officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Vietnam aims to become a high-income country by 2045, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City accelerating investment in sustainable infrastructure and urban connectivity. Expanding national and urban rail networks, alongside the adoption of TOD and BIM, is seen as critical to integrated transport and urban planning and improving access to public transport.

North–South high-speed railway project to break ground in late 2026

VOV.VN - Vietnam plans to break ground on its flagship North–South high-speed railway project by the end of 2026, the Ministry of Construction said, as authorities accelerate preparations for one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.