A resolution from the government's regular meeting on October 5 stated that the government has assigned the Ministry of Construction (MoC) to select a capable and experienced international consulting consortium to study investment options for the north-south high-speed railway project. The MoC must also engage an independent unit to verify the feasibility study preparation process and finalize the economic and technical standards, regulations, and norms for high-speed railways.

The Standing Government first called for the selection of an international consultant in January, after evaluating the project's preparatory phase as disorganized. Issues identified included inadequate impact and risk analysis, a lack of objective and scientific basis, and unclear mechanisms for harmonizing benefits and sharing risks between the State and investors.

To find contractors, the MoC organized an introduction for the feasibility study consulting package in May, attracting over 80 participating entities, primarily international firms.

Consulting package TV02 encompasses the preparation of the feasibility study, front-end engineering design (feed), construction tender documents, and a survey for land acquisition across an area exceeding 10,000 hectares along the route.

Once selected, the consulting unit will study the route alignment, determine the scope of land to be acquired, and mark boundaries on site. According to the plan, a mid-term report must be completed 12 months after deployment, anticipated in Q2/2027, to provide local authorities with the basis for land clearance.

Leaders from the Thang Long Project Management Board stated that the consulting package involves a substantial workload and complex technical requirements, necessitating a consulting consortium with sufficient experience, expertise, and financial capacity.

A high-speed train travels through Hakusan city, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. *Photo: AFP*

The north-south high-speed railway will span approximately 1,541 km, traversing 15 provinces and cities, connecting Ngoc Hoi station in Hanoi with Thu Thiem station in Ho Chi Minh City. The line is designed as a double track, with a 1,435 mm gauge and a speed of 350 km/h, featuring 23 passenger stations and 5 cargo stations.

The preliminary total investment exceeds VND 1.7 quadrillion, equivalent to USD 67,34 billion. According to the plan, the feasibility study will be prepared and approved during the 2026-2028 period, with the project set to break ground in late 2026 and be largely completed by 2035.

In addition to the north-south high-speed railway, the government has also called for accelerating preparations for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong railway project. The Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) are tasked with completing negotiations and signing an agreement for the construction of a shared cross-border bridge this year, while also finalizing the approval of the project's feasibility study.

For other key transport infrastructure projects, the MoC must expedite construction, disburse public investment capital, and resolve obstacles related to land clearance, material sources, and investment procedures.

Starting in October, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) will evaluate the disbursement progress of projects, using this as a basis for reallocating capital and developing the 2027 public investment plan. Projects with slow disbursement that do not meet deadlines may have their capital reallocated to better-performing projects or placed into unallocated funds.

Vu Tuan