On October 15, the city government released Decision No. 2153/QD-UBND, officially forming a council to evaluate the investment proposal and investor eligibility for the high-speed rail line between central Ho Chi Minh City and Can Gio.

The project was initiated by the High-Speed Railway Investment and Development Joint Stock Company (Vinspeed).

The council is tasked with a comprehensive review of the project's legal documents in accordance with Vietnamese law before submitting its findings for final consideration by the municipal People's Committee.

The appraisal council consists of 18 members working part-time under a collective, majority-voting principle. Nguyen Cong Vinh, Director of the Department of Finance, has been appointed as the council’s chairman.

Council members include representatives from key departments such as Finance, Construction, Agriculture and Environment, Planning and Architecture, Justice, Science and Technology, Industry and Trade, and Culture and Sports. Additionally, members include officials from the Urban Railway Management Board, the Urban Development Management Board, and leaders of wards and communes affected by the project.

Each department has been assigned specific responsibilities to ensure a multi-dimensional and in-depth evaluation.

The Department of Finance (as lead agency) will assess the project’s legal foundation, necessity, objectives, scale, timeline, funding sources (equity and mobilized capital), and particularly the investor’s financial capacity.

The Department of Construction will evaluate the project’s feasibility, efficiency, technical aspects related to transport infrastructure, the investor’s technical competence, and technological suitability.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment will review land-use needs, feasibility of land allocation or leasing, and provide a preliminary environmental impact assessment. Special attention will be given to forest clearance and potential impacts on the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve.

The Department of Planning and Architecture will assess the project's alignment with national, regional, municipal, and urban railway development plans.

The Department of Justice will review the legal compliance and appropriateness of investor selection methods and related legal issues.

Local People's Committees are responsible for verifying land use compatibility with regional plans, especially in areas affecting rice fields, and for laying the groundwork for site clearance.

Additionally, the council will invite a panel of urban rail network experts to provide consultancy and counter-arguments regarding technology, scale, and investor selection criteria.

Upon completion of the appraisal process, the council will submit its findings. The Department of Finance will then provide recommendations to the city government on whether to approve the investment policy and investor selection.

The high-speed rail line from central Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio, proposed by Vinspeed, spans 48.5 kilometers with an estimated investment of approximately USD 4 billion. The company plans to break ground in the fourth quarter of this year, with completion expected in early 2028.

The proposed dual-track railway is designed with a standard gauge of 1,435mm and a top speed of 350 km/h - more than triple the speed of the existing Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line (110 km/h).

Once completed, the line will cut travel time between the city center and the coastal Can Gio urban area to just 12 minutes and will have a transport capacity of 30,000 to 40,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

Tuan Kiet