The Vietnamese government plans to start building two high-speed railroads in the north by 2030 to connect the capital Hanoi with China, Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported on April 10th. The plan is part of Vietnam's Red River Delta Development Strategy, which aims to strengthen transportation infrastructure, reduce congestion and boost economic growth.
By the end of 2022, professionals suggested that the lines in question would carry passengers at 225 kilometers per hour and goods at 160 kilometers per hour. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has more than once called for the development of a modernized north-south high-speed rail network with speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, in line with global trends. He said the railroad is of national interest and "cannot be delayed and must be implemented with strong political determination."
Vietnam's National Assembly President Vương Đình Huệ met with executives of China Railway Corporation and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing on Monday (8). During Xi's visit to Vietnam last December, Vietnam and China signed dozens of cooperation agreements, including railroads.
The two high-speed railways are part of Vietnam's much-anticipated North-South High-Speed Railway (HSR) route. In February 2019, the Ministry of Transportation submitted a feasibility report to the government on the North-South High-Speed Railway (HSR) project, which runs through 20 provinces and cities in Vietnam. The high-speed rail is planned to have a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour and operate at 320 kilometers per hour.
One of the railroads in the pipeline will connect Vietnam's capital Hanoi and Lang Son province and will extend to the China-Vietnam border, the report said. Another railroad will connect Vietnam's northeastern Quang Ninh and northwestern Lao Cai provinces via the northern coastal cities of Hai Phong and Hanoi.
Vietnam's Lang Son province borders China's Guangxi. According to the report, the project is seen as a key step in modernizing Vietnam's transportation network, promoting "connectivity" between Vietnam and China, and supporting Vietnam's overall economic development goals. Previously, Vietnamese officials have repeatedly called for the construction of a high-speed rail line connecting Hanoi and Lang Son province.
Tran Van Tuan, a representative of the National Assembly of the province of Bac Giang, said in January that Vietnam should build a high-speed railroad as soon as possible, and it is feasible to start construction before 2030, "Once completed, the railroad can be put into operation immediately, as China already has a modern integrated railroad system." Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has also repeatedly emphasized the need for Vietnam to develop a modern north-south high-speed rail network.
Reuters noted that the railroad from Hanoi to Lang Son province will pass through areas with a high concentration of manufacturing in Vietnam, some of which are owned by Chinese investors. Today, Vietnam and China are already connected by a highway system and two railroads, but these railroads are already somewhat "old" and need to be upgraded on the Vietnamese side.
The Vietnamese government has previously said it wants to learn from China's experience in railroad construction to develop its first high-speed rail network. "China's railroad industry is the most developed in the world, so Vietnam wants to learn from China's experience, especially in terms of technology, capital mobilization and management knowledge," the government said in a statement.
China is Vietnam's largest trading partner. In the first quarter of this year, trade between China and Vietnam rose 22 percent from the same period last year to $43.6 billion, according to Vietnamese government data. China is an important source of imports for Vietnam's manufacturing sector, and this railroad construction plan shows that relations between the two countries are expected to heat up further.