Vietnam to break ground on $5.6 billion Hanoi–Quang Ninh high-speed rail project led by VinSpeed, a VinGroup subsidiary

VinSpeed, a subsidiary of VinGroup, is the investor behind the Hanoi–Quang Ninh high-speed railway project. The line will run for more than 120 km through Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, with total investment of more than 147,000 billion dong (about 5.6 billion USD).

Project scope and technical specifications

The project will use about 551 hectares of land across four localities: Hanoi (44 ha), Bac Ninh (19 ha), Hai Phong (210 ha) and Quang Ninh (278 ha). The railway is planned as a double-track standard gauge line (1,435 mm) with full electrification.

The starting station will be Co Loa (within the Việt Nam Exhibition Centre area—Vinhomes Global Gate in Hanoi), and the end station will be Ha Long in Quang Ninh. The design speed is up to 350 km/h, with the Hanoi segment covering about 120 km at around that speed.

Route design and expected timeline

A key feature of the alignment is its elevated design. Only about 4 km is expected to be on the ground, while the remaining 116 km will be built on viaducts, including river crossings, road bridges, and connections with existing rail or road infrastructure.

The project is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2028. Once operational, it is expected to reduce travel time between Hanoi and Quang Ninh from 2–2.5 hours to about 23 minutes.

Approvals and investor details

In late January, the Quang Ninh People’s Committee approved the project and the investor. VinSpeed will build the line to meet passenger demand along the Hanoi–Bac Ninh–Hai Phong–Quang Ninh axis, supporting rapid and sustainable development and better integration with domestic and international rail networks.

VinSpeed was founded by VinGroup Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong on May 6, 2025, with an initial charter capital of 6,000 billion dong. Vuong contributed 3,060 billion dong (51%), while his two sons each contributed 30 billion dong (0.5%).

Economic corridor linkage and regional roles

After completion, the railway is expected to link the Hanoi–Hai Phong–Quang Ninh economic corridor, leveraging strengths in industry, logistics, ports, services and tourism. Hanoi is expected to remain the political and administrative center; Hai Phong is expected to drive industrial growth and logistics; and Quang Ninh is expected to benefit from tourism, services and a creative economy.

Groundbreaking plans

The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for April 12 and will be held in the Ha Long area, at the construction site of Ha Long station, spanning Tuần Châu and Việt Hưng wards in Quang Ninh.