The Government of France is seeking to expand long-term cooperation with Vietnam in railway development, focusing on technology transfer, operations, training and industrial ecosystem development.
The discussions took place during the Vietnam-France Railway Transport Forum 2026 held in Hanoi, which brought together major French railway companies including Alstom, SNCF and Systra alongside Vietnamese transport and infrastructure officials. The French companies aim to contribute not only through technology and equipment supply but also through planning, design consultancy, operations management, workforce development and railway industry expansion in Vietnam.
The cooperation discussions focus on Vietnam’s planned North-South high-speed railway, urban rail expansion in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and broader regional connectivity projects linked to ports and airports. Vietnamese officials highlighted the need for advanced technology, digital transformation, signalling systems and integrated railway management capabilities to support upcoming large-scale projects.
Earlier in 2025, French organisations including SNCF and the Agence Française de Développement signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction covering railway project management training and technical cooperation.