Projected HCMC-Can Tho railway to be started by 2030

Construction of the projected Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway line is scheduled to start before 2030, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Earlier, voters in Can Tho City requested that the Ministry of Transport expedite investment procedures for the high-speed railway project from HCM City to the Mekong Delta city. 

According to the ministry, under the National Railway Network Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the HCM City - Can Tho railway line is approximately 174 km long, running through six provinces/cities, with double tracks and a gauge of 1,435 mm.

The draft pre-feasibility study report for the railway line stated that the project will start at An Binh station, Binh Duong Province, and end at Can Tho station, Can Tho City. The line will pass through Binh Duong, HCM City, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Tho City.

The design speed for freight trains is 120 km/h, and for passenger trains is 160 km/h. The preliminary total investment for the project is over VND238.6 trillion (approximately $9.34 billion), funded through public investment.

Regarding the proposed investment roadmap, the consulting consortium suggested that the project be submitted to the Government for state appraisal and then to the National Assembly for approval of the investment policy in 2025. The feasibility study report should be prepared and approved in 2026-2027, construction should commence before 2030, and operations should begin from 2035.