The Government of Vietnam has proposed the development of a new electrified railway connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, with an estimated investment of more than VND171 trillion (approximately USD6.57 billion). The proposal was submitted by the My Thuan Project Management Unit (PMU My Thuan) to the Ministry of Construction through a pre-feasibility study, marking a significant step towards improving transport connectivity in the Mekong Delta region.
The proposed railway would extend approximately 175.2 km from An Binh Station in Di An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, to Can Tho Station in Hung Phu Ward, Can Tho City. The route would pass through Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh Province, Dong Thap Province, Vinh Long Province and Can Tho City. Designed as a mixed-use passenger and freight corridor, the line would use standard-gauge (1,435 mm) electrified railway technology and include 12 stations and three maintenance depots located at An Binh, Tan Kien and Can Tho.
Under the first phase, a single-track railway would be constructed with a maximum operating speed of 160 km/hr for passenger services and 120 km/hr for freight trains. Although Vietnam’s long-term railway master plan envisions a double-track system, project planners believe a single track will be sufficient to meet expected demand through 2055. The railway will incorporate modern signalling, train control and electrification systems to support efficient operations.
PMU My Thuan has recommended financing the project entirely through public investment, arguing that international experience indicates public funding can be more effective than public-private partnership (PPP) models for large-scale railway projects. The investment policy is expected to be submitted to Vietnam’s National Assembly in August 2026. Subject to approval, detailed design and project preparation activities are scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2028, with construction expected to begin in the third quarter of 2028. The railway is targeted for completion by 2035.