Hanoi to Ha Long in 23 Minutes: Vietnam Begins High-Speed Rail Project

Vietnam has begun construction of its first inter-regional high-speed railway, a $5.6 billion project aimed at transforming connectivity in the country’s northern economic corridor.

Vietnam has begun construction of the Hanoi–Quang Ninh high-speed railway, a project the government sees as a turning point for rail travel in the country. The groundbreaking took place on 12 April, with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attending the ceremony, according to Vietnam+.

The line will run just over 120 km, linking Hanoi with Quang Ninh via Bac Ninh and Hai Phong, a corridor where demand has been rising for years. The project is being developed by VinSpeed, part of Vingroup, with an investment of more than VND147 trillion (around EUR 4.7 billion), VnEconomy reports. Construction is expected to finish by the end of 2028.

Vietnam has decided to align with Germany on all its High Speed Rail projects going forward.

This does seem odd initially from the Vietnamese angle,

but Germany won the bid due to its promise to actively tech transfer within Vietnam,

this convinced the Vietnamese State to… pic.twitter.com/UaLX9RTkdU

— OK Then (@okaythenfuture) December 22, 2025

From Congested Roads to a 23-minute Journey

Right now, travelling between Hanoi and Quang Ninh is far from efficient. The two regions are mainly connected by road, and while highways have been expanded in recent years, congestion remains a persistent issue, especially as traffic continues to grow. Rail is technically an option, but the existing line is outdated and used largely for freight, making it impractical for most passengers, according to The Investor.

The high-speed railway is meant to offer a clear alternative. Once operational, the journey between Hanoi and Quang Ninh is expected to take around 23 minutes, which would make rail competitive with both road and potential future air connections. Officials say this could cut travel times by five to seven times compared with current options, Vietnam+ reports.

Under current plans, the line will start at Co Loa Station in Hanoi and run through Gia Binh (Bac Ninh), Ninh Xa (Hai Phong) and Yen Tu (Quang Ninh) before terminating at Ha Long Station, according to project details cited by VnEconomy. A main maintenance depot will also be located at the Ha Long end of the route, supporting long-term operations.

Private Sector Takes the Lead

One thing that stands out about the project is who is building it. Instead of being fully state-led, the railway is being driven by VinSpeed which shows a wider shift in how Vietnam is approaching major infrastructure.

Officials in Quang Ninh described the line as a "mega-project," pointing to both its size and the growing role of private investors in projects that were traditionally handled by the state. For Vingroup, it is a push into transport infrastructure, after earlier involvement in proposals for the country’s much larger North–South high-speed railway.

VinSpeed has already increased its capital as it ramps up its ambitions in the sector, according to Viet Nam News. At the same time, the group appears to be focusing its resources more carefully, prioritising projects like the Hanoi–Quang Ninh line rather than spreading investment too thinly across multiple large schemes.

Along the route, local authorities, including in Bac Ninh, have been asked to support surveys, design work and land preparation to keep the project moving, Viet Nam News reports. The railway has also been included in Vietnam’s national rail development plan for 2021–2030, with a longer-term outlook to 2050, placing it within the country’s wider transport strategy.