North-South High-Speed Railway: Investment method to be finalized in January 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just issued an important directive regarding the progress of the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis. Accordingly, the investment method for this mega-project must be specifically determined in the first month of 2026.

Decisive selection of investment methods

Speaking at the Ministry of Construction 's 2025 review conference on December 21st, the Prime Minister emphasized that transportation infrastructure is one of the strategic breakthroughs that has seen significant progress. The head of government requested that ministries and sectors make even greater efforts to achieve double-digit growth targets in the coming period.

Regarding the North-South high-speed railway project, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Construction to conduct a comprehensive review of technical standards, regulations, technologies, and implementation conditions by December 2025. This will serve as the basis for the Government to definitively select a suitable investment model by January 2026, including options such as public investment, private investment, or public-private partnership (PPP).

Perspective view of the modern high-speed railway project on the North-South axis. — The North-South high-speed railway project is a key national transportation project. (Illustrative image)

Technical specifications and deployment roadmap

The North-South high-speed railway project received investment approval from the National Assembly in November 2024, with exceptionally large technical specifications and scale:

Total length: 1,541 km, connecting Ngoc Hoi station (Hanoi) to Thu Thiem station (Ho Chi Minh City).
Total investment: Estimated at $67 billion.
Technology: Double track gauge 1,435 mm, design speed 350 km/h, axle load 22.5 tons.
Station scale: 23 passenger terminals and 5 cargo terminals.
Operational objectives: Primarily passenger transport, meeting dual-use requirements for national defense and security, and capable of transporting goods when necessary.

Identifying the investment method early on is considered the most crucial link at this time. This not only helps to shape the financial mechanism but also creates a foundation for mobilizing domestic and foreign resources, ensuring the project can commence as planned in 2027.

Strategic impact on socio-economic development

According to urban planning experts, the realization of the high-speed railway line will create strong inter-regional connectivity, shortening travel time between major economic centers. The project not only solves the transportation infrastructure problem but also opens up new development opportunities in the localities through which the line passes, especially around the system of 23 passenger stations.

The Prime Minister requested that the implementation ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and a proactive "green and digital" transformation throughout the entire design and construction process. With the specific timeline just set, this mega-project is entering a crucial phase, requiring close coordination between ministries and agencies to ensure its technical and legal feasibility.

Note: Project information may be adjusted based on the results of the technical standards review and the Government's final investment method selection.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/duong-sat-toc-do-cao-bac-nam-chot-phuong-thuc-dau-tu-thang-12026-412483.html