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#Vietnam's Hanoi to Ha Long Bay high speed rail cuts travel time from 3h to 23 minutes Vietnam broke ground on April 12 on the 120km high-speed rail to link Hanoi and Ha Long Bay at 350 kph speed (217 mph). The $5.6 billion railway (excluding site clearance costs) is being developed by VinSpeed, a subsidiary of Vingroup. Tourism in Vietnam is set to gain from easier and faster travel to Ha Long Bay, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors will be able to explore Hanoi’s cultural sites and Halong Bay’s natural beauty in a single day, boosting the appeal for international tourists. The railway will be connecting Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh provinces, and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. The project is set to deploy the latest generation of high-speed trains, alongside advanced signaling and communications systems supplied by Germany’s Siemens Mobility, which will also gradually transfer technology to VinSpeed during operations. Designed as a double-track, standard-gauge of 1,435mm, fully electrified line, it will support maximum speeds of up to 350kph, with sections in Hanoi capped at 120kph. The line will start at Cổ Loa Station in Ha Noi and end at Hạ Long Station in Quang Ninh, with intermediate stops at Gia Binh (Bac Ninh), Ninh Xa (Hai Phong) and Yen Tu (Quang Ninh), as well as a depot located at the Ha Long terminus. The project will require 551 hectares of land, including 44 hectares in Hanoi, 19 hectares in Bac Ninh, 210 hectares in Hai Phong, and 278 hectares in Quang Ninh. Speaking at the ceremony, Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, affirmed that the company would deliver world-proven high-speed rail technology that is highly efficient and safe. He also pledged long-term cooperation with Vingroup, including deep technology transfer, joint assembly and maintenance, aimed at building a new high-speed rail ecosystem in Việt Nam. The Ha Noi–Quang Ninh line is the second high-speed rail project undertaken by VinSpeed. Previously, in late 2025, the company broke ground on the Ben Thanh–Can Gio railway in HCM City, which is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2028. The project reflects both the investor’s strong capacity and commitment, and the increasingly significant role of the private sector in developing the country’s critical infrastructure. Quang Ninh’s proximity to China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region also means the rail will strengthen cross-border connectivity. Officials say improved rail links with China will help reduce logistics costs, integrate Vietnam into broader Asia-Europe supply chains, and elevate the country’s position in regional trade networks. “Railway infrastructure is a strategic breakthrough for economic development and bilateral trade with China,” says To Lam (Vietnam's new president). Note: I gathered the information from public announcements and a variety of state news media sources.