According to the Ministry of Transport, the North-South high-speed railway trains will run entirely on electricity.

At a media briefing in early October 2024 on the investment plan for the North-South high-speed railway project, the Ministry of Transport emphasized, “Electric-powered high-speed rail is one of the optimal solutions for transforming the transportation sector, especially as Vietnam prioritizes developing a low-carbon economy, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, as committed at COP26.”
The Ministry of Transport’s report also cited research from the International Union of Railways, highlighting that high-speed rail is a sustainable and safe mode of transportation.
High-speed trains are environmentally friendly (the environmental impact costs of high-speed rail are lower than other modes of transport; CO2 emissions are 8.5 times lower than airplanes and 3.7 times lower than cars; the cost savings from reduced CO2 emissions could amount to about USD 67 million by 2040 and approximately USD 172 million by 2050), and resource-efficient.
To transport 15,000 – 16,000 passengers per hour, a highway would require about 75 meters of land width, whereas a high-speed railway would need only about 25 meters, just one-third of the road width. Furthermore, about 70% of the rail line’s length will use bridges and tunnels, effectively mitigating climate change impacts and minimizing community disruption.
Additionally, the Asian Development Bank estimates that traffic accidents in Vietnam result in annual economic losses of around 2.9% of the country’s GDP. Calculations show that the North-South high-speed railway could reduce accident-related losses by about USD 849 million in 2040 and approximately USD 1.906 billion by 2050.
Thus, implementing high-speed rail contributes significantly to environmental protection and promotes a green economy.
The Ministry of Transport acknowledged the deployment of high-speed trains using advanced global technologies. However, with technology transfer and suitable policies, Vietnam could take full control over construction, operations, and maintenance, while gradually localizing the production of certain components and spare parts.
The proposed North-South high-speed railway project is expected to start at Ngoc Hoi Station (Hanoi), pass through 20 provinces and cities, and end at Thu Thiem Station (Ho Chi Minh City), directly connecting two special metropolitan areas with populations of up to 10 million people, as well as 17 first-tier cities with populations of 500,000 or more, not to mention smaller towns.
The entire route will feature 23 passenger stations with an average distance between stations of 50-70 km, and five freight stations linked to major logistics hubs, serving national defense logistics when needed.
The total investment for the project is estimated at over USD 67 billion, expected to be sourced from the state budget under the medium-term public investment plans. Funding allocation will span 12 years, averaging around USD 5.6 billion per year.
During the construction and operational phases, businesses will be invited to invest in service and commercial areas at the stations, as well as provide additional transportation services to meet demand.
According to the proposed timeline, the project will be submitted for approval by the National Assembly in October 2024, with construction set to begin at the end of 2027, and the entire route expected to be completed by 2035.