Hanoi metro station roof left damaged for months as wear shows on 3-year-old line

The 13-kilometer elevated line, built by a Chinese contractor, began commercial service in November 2021 after more than a decade of construction delays.

Photos taken by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper this week show peeling wall paint, broken glass panels, and deterioration at several stations. 

The most notable damage is at Yen Nghia station, where a section of the roof has been missing for months, allowing rainwater to flood the platform area during recent storms.

Hanoi Metro, the state-owned operator of the line, has not provided a timeline for repairs.

On May 20, the operator issued a public apology after video circulated showing passengers using umbrellas inside a train to shield themselves from water dripping from the ceiling. 

The company said the issue was caused by a malfunction in the train's air conditioning control system.

Heavy rain and strong winds on May 23 worsened flooding at Yen Nghia station, with water streaming through the damaged roof area. 

The hole was reportedly caused by high winds during Typhoon Yagi in September 2024 and has yet to be repaired.

More recently, the Cat Linh–Ha Dong line experienced a technical failure at around 5:30 pm on Friday, temporarily preventing passengers from disembarking at the final station, Cat Linh. 

The issue was resolved within approximately 25 minutes, according to the operator.

The incidents have added to concerns about maintenance and long-term reliability of the line, which was the first metro project completed in Vietnam.