VIETNAM and Britain aim to collaborate more on rail projects following a working session in Hanoi on July 29 between minister of construction, Tran Hong Minh, and the British ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew.
According to local news outlet Vietnam Plus, Minh outlined Vietnam’s vision for developing its railway infrastructure between now and 2045. This includes establishing a modern, integrated rail network to drive rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. “Rail infrastructure will be pivotal for the north-south economic corridor, key east-west transport axes, and urban passenger transport,” he said
The Vietnamese government is accelerating the development of several key projects, including cross-border rail connections with China, the North-South Railway, a 1541km high-speed line connecting Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City, and new lines in these cities. The $US 67bn high-speed project was recently approved in principle by the National Assembly. Completion of the 350km/h 1435mm-gauge line is due in 2035.
Minh noted that expertise from international consultancy firms would be crucial for projects like this. Frew reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to a strategic partnership with Vietnam and welcomed the recent rise in bilateral trade, which exceeded $US 8bn in 2024. He added that rail projects involving infrastructure, digital transformation, and green growth held significant potential for expanded collaboration between the two countries.
