Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged the swift development of modern railway systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, highlighting their crucial role in alleviating traffic congestion, reducing pollution, and boosting economic growth.

His remarks, delivered at a meeting with cabinet members and  representatives from the two cities on December 5, aligned with the Politburo's directives on railway infrastructure development.

PM Chinh, who is also head of the State Steering Committee for National Key Transport Projects, called for a proactive approach, emphasizing strategic, long-term, and inclusive planning for efficient and timely project execution.

He advocated for significant decentralization, empowering the cities to manage implementation, resource mobilization, and related issues in constructing both elevated and underground railway networks, in accordance with the national transport development strategy.

The Ministry of Transport was tasked with finalizing comprehensive urban railway and transport plans, avoiding residential areas and vital infrastructure to minimize land acquisition and disruption to communities, national security and defense, and socio-economic activities.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for advanced, locally adaptable technologies, diversified funding sources, and robust human resource development within the railway sector.

The rollout of urban rail systems should be phased to align with national development goals to turn Vietnam into an upper middle-income country with a modern industrial base by 2030 and a high-income developed nation by 2045.

He mandated that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City submit their finalized construction master plans to the Government Office by December 25, emphasizing the two cities' leading role in urban railway development.

Hanoi's approved transport plan projects more than 410 km of urban railway network by 2035, and over 200 km more by 2045, requiring an estimated investment capital of $14.6 billion (2026-2030), $22.57 billion (2031-2035), and $18.25 billion (2036-2045).

HCM City's draft revised master plan (to 2040, with a vision to 2060) envisions a comprehensive system of 12 rail lines, inclduing 10 metro lines, with total length of approximately 510 km, and two tram lines (approximately 70 km). The estimated investment capital exceeds $36 billion (to 2035), $26 billion (2036-2045), and $40 billion (2046-2060).