The meeting attended by standing members of the Government reviewed and addressed bottlenecks in the implementation of key national railway infrastructure projects, including the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway, the North–South high-speed railway, and urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Prime Minister held that all decisions must ensure a balanced alignment of interests among stakeholders, effectively prevent corruption, misconduct and vested interests, and ultimately guarantee the success of the projects.

He underscored that standards, procedures and implementation methods must be clearly defined, feasible, and subject to comprehensive impact assessments, with all options publicly disclosed in a transparent manner.

Commending ministries, agencies and localities for their proactive efforts in 2025, the Government leader highlighted the amendment of the Railway Law as a major milestone in improving the institutional framework for railway development. He instructed the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Science and Technology to thoroughly review international standards and practices, draw on global experience, and select appropriate technologies for the North–South high-speed railway, ensuring technical soundness, economic efficiency and diplomatic considerations.

Regarding the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway, the Prime Minister directed that Component Project 1 be implemented strictly according to schedule, while efforts to accelerate the pre-feasibility study should be intensified, with completion targeted no later than March 2026.

He called for diversified funding sources, including savings from development investment expenditure, increased state budget revenues, expenditure savings and the medium-term public investment plan.

The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of developing a domestic railway industry and supporting ecosystem, and clarifying management mechanisms. The Ministry of Construction was tasked with completing consultancy and survey plans by January 2026, in line with established standards and transparent investment selection procedures that best serve national interests.

For urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Prime Minister urged faster construction progress, particularly on underground sections, to meet approved timelines. He assigned the Ministry of Finance to expedite procedures related to funding and relevant approvals, and called for the mobilidation of all available resources, including both state and private capital, to ensure synchronized investment in urban railway systems connected to major transport hubs.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Construction stated that for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway, construction of five initial stations began in May 2025, while surveys and designs for the remaining 16 stations are underway, with groundbreaking expected in the first quarter of 2026. The feasibility study for Component Project 2 is scheduled for completion in March 2026.

For the North–South high-speed railway, 11 out of 15 localities have completed reviews of resettlement needs, while the preparation of the feasibility study is progressing, with consultancy contracts expected to be signed in December 2025.

Urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are being implemented according to plan, with several lines achieving key milestones and others preparing for groundbreaking in early 2026.

At the meeting, participants underscored the urgency of establishing a coherent and unified system of technical standards and regulations, ensuring interoperability among railway lines and laying a solid foundation for the long-term development of the railway sector. They also called for faster land clearance, greater mobilisation of official development assistance (ODA), and the introduction of special policy mechanisms to enable the selection of advanced technologies and efficient investment models.

Vietnam prioritises North–South high-speed rail after completing expressway backbone

VOV.VN - The Ministry of Construction will shift its infrastructure development focus to the North–South high-speed railway after completing continuous expressway connectivity from Cao Bang to Ca Mau in 2025, marking a new strategic phase aimed at boosting economic growth and national transport capacity.