Vietnam's first privately funded LRT targets June 2027 trial run on Phu Quoc

Construction ramps up amid challenges

The first phase of the Phu Quoc LRT, developed by Sun Group under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, has a total investment of nearly VND9 trillion and spans 17.59 kilometers.

The line will connect Phu Quoc International Airport on the namesake island with the APEC International Convention and Exhibition Center, cutting travel time from the airport to southern Phu Quoc to about 20 minutes once operational.

The development is Vietnam's first privately funded LRT line.

As of early August, VND1.8 trillion ($68.2 million) had been disbursed, equivalent to 28.7 percent of the total investment, according to the project management board.

The investor and contractors are working across three main sections: bridges, tunnels, and roadbeds.

For the bridge section, all bored piles for the deep foundations have been completed.

Pier foundations are about 63 percent complete, while pier shafts have reached 56 percent.

Once foundation and pier works are finished, crews will proceed with bridge superstructures, rail laying, electrical systems, signaling and operating equipment.

In the tunnel section, piling has reached about 97 percent, while foundation excavation stands at 42 percent.

Roadbed excavation and formation are about 97 percent complete, while sand and earth filling have reached 97 percent and 79 percent, respectively.

After the roadbed is substantially finished, workers will move on to the upper structural layers and related technical infrastructure, subject to continued material supplies.

The project management board said the gap between piling and foundation excavation in the tunnel sections shows that substantial work remains on excavation, structural support, and tunnel construction.

Tunnel works will be carried out in stages to keep the schedule while ensuring safety and stability in surrounding areas.

Rain, hard rock hamper construction

Heavy rainfall during Phu Quoc's rainy season has caused flooding and disrupted drainage work along the road median.

At Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2, hard geological formations have prevented contractors from installing Larsen sheet piles as originally planned.

The conditions have forced them to switch to open-cut excavation to avoid delays.

The change has increased the risk of slope failures and water accumulation during heavy rainfall.

Workers have had to pump out water and clear collapsed soil to keep works moving.

The site has also encountered existing utility infrastructure, including power lines and major water supply pipelines, requiring contractors to relocate the facilities while construction continues.

The simultaneous development of the LRT and the upgrade of provincial road DT.975 has added to coordination challenges, while the local drainage system remains under construction.

Nearly 600 engineers, supervisors, and workers are currently working around the clock in three shifts to keep the project on schedule.

First rails set for installation this month

Several key milestones are scheduled for the coming months.

The first ground-level rails are due to be installed by the end of August, followed by rail laying on elevated and underground sections in October.

The first trains are expected to arrive in Phu Quoc in January and February 2027 for equipment installation.

Basic completion and system testing are planned for June 2027, with commercial operations scheduled to begin in August.

The LRT is part of infrastructure preparations in Phu Quoc Special Zone, administered by An Giang Province in southern Vietnam, for the APEC 2027 summit, slated for November next year.

Other major transport projects, including DT.975 and APEC Boulevard, are also being accelerated and are scheduled for completion by April 30, 2027.

The projects are expected to improve transport links between Phu Quoc International Airport and major destinations in the south of the special zone ahead of APEC 2027.