Authorities in Bắc Ninh Province have begun supporting preparatory work for the proposed Hà Nội–Quảng Ninh high-speed railway (HSR), following a request to facilitate survey and design activities for a project promoted by Vinspeed High-Speed Railway Investment and Development JSC.
The Bắc Ninh Provincial People’s Committee has issued official instructions to several wards and communes, including Từ Sơn, Thuận Thành, Gia Bình and Lương Tài, to coordinate with project teams during field surveys and technical studies. These activities form part of the early-stage preparations for the planned rail corridor linking northern Vietnam’s capital with Quảng Ninh Province.
Under the proposal, the high-speed line would start at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Hà Nội and terminate at the Forest Park area of Việt Hưng Ward in Quảng Ninh, opposite the Vinhomes Hạ Long Xanh urban development. The project envisages a new double-track passenger railway of around 120 km, built to standard gauge (1,435 mm) and powered by electrified traction.
According to Vinspeed’s pre-feasibility study, the main alignment would be designed for a maximum speed of 350 km/hr, while sections running through Hà Nội would operate at lower speeds of about 120 km/hr. Total investment is estimated at approximately USD5.54 billion, with the project proposed under a business investment model in line with Vietnam’s Law on Investment.
The investor has outlined an ambitious timeline, targeting construction to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, completion in 2027, and commercial operations starting in 2028. In parallel, Vinspeed has strengthened its financial base, recently increasing its charter capital by 36 per cent, from VND33 trillion to VND45 trillion.
The survey initiative comes shortly after Vingroup formally withdrew its registration to invest in the North–South HSR project, citing the need to concentrate resources on other strategic infrastructure developments. This shift underscores the growing interest of private-sector players in alternative high-speed rail corridors across northern Vietnam.
