Hanoi strikes deals for 5 metro lines, targets 2030 completion

The agreement was signed in Hanoi on Thursday between the municipal administration’s Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board and a consortium led by Vinhomes JSC and SGC Investment and Construction JSC under a turnkey contract model.

Both Vinhomes and SGC are subsidiaries of leading Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup.

The contractors will handle all stages, from surveying and design to procurement, construction, installation, testing, and final handover.

The five lines, namely No. 1, 2, 8, 10, and 14, will span approximately 253.5 kilometers in total and include depots for train maintenance, repairs, and operations.

Line No. 8 will be the longest, at around 64 kilometers, followed by Line No. 2 at some 60 kilometers.

The metro network will connect central Hanoi with new urban areas, airports, and transport hubs, significantly boosting passenger capacity, reducing reliance on road traffic, promoting transit-oriented development, and improving the use of urban land.

The system will use standard-gauge tracks (1,435 mm) and advanced communication-based train control, aiming for full automation, allowing driverless operation.

Speaking at the singing ceremony, Vu Dai Thang, chairman of the municipal administration, said the five metro lines will form a high-capacity public transport network, reduce traffic congestion, improve the environment, and support transit-oriented development.

He emphasized the need for modern, proven technology, safety, and interoperability across all lines.

Train systems, signaling, control, power supply, operations management, and maintenance must follow unified technical standards to reduce dependence on any single technology supplier.

“The city hopes that once the projects are completed, we will not only have railway lines in operation but also build domestic expertise in railway engineering and operations,” Thang said.

He called for a unified management system and strict oversight of every stage, from design and material and equipment selection to construction, testing, and acceptance.

For underground construction, particularly work involving tunnel-boring machines, the consortium must implement appropriate engineering solutions and risk controls to protect existing structures, infrastructure, and residents’ daily lives, he said.

Investment costs must also be tightly controlled in accordance with the contracts.

Technology and equipment selection should account for both initial investment and operating and maintenance expenses throughout each project’s life cycle.

With the target of completing all five lines in 2030, Thang urged the consortium to promptly develop comprehensive and detailed schedules for each line and construction component, identifying key milestones and resource requirements.

Pham Thieu Hoa, board chairman of Vinhomes, pledged to deliver the completed system on schedule, with trial runs expected by late 2029 and full operation by the end of 2030.

He asked city leaders to assist with land clearance and regulatory hurdles.

According to the Vinhomes-SGC consortium, the five metro projects have a combined investment value of nearly VND900 trillion (US$34.7 billion), excluding site-clearance costs.

The consortium has already prepared more than 100 tunnel boring machines, 50 diaphragm wall excavation systems, and thousands of transport vehicles to support simultaneous construction across multiple sites.

It is also working with consultants from Europe, Japan, South Korea, and China to develop detailed designs, while cooperating with experienced international contractors specializing in TBM tunnel construction to carry out technically complex work.