Vietnam’s North-South high-speed railway project is entering a crucial stage as authorities target the completion of consultant selection for the feasibility study by the end of June 2026 - a major milestone for what is expected to become the country’s largest infrastructure project.

Speaking with VietNamNet, representatives of the Thang Long Project Management Unit said the Ministry of Construction had assigned the agency to oversee the feasibility study phase of the North-South high-speed railway project.

Under the plan, “Consulting Package No. 2” covering surveys and preparation of the feasibility study report, including FEED design work, is considered the most important component of the investment preparation stage. Authorities aim to finalize the consultant selection process by June 30.

To accelerate progress, the Ministry of Construction approved the use of direct appointment for the consulting package. The Thang Long PMU has also conducted international market surveys, recording interest from around 80 domestic and foreign consulting firms experienced in high-speed rail and large-scale infrastructure projects.

According to project representatives, the survey process is intended to assess the independent capabilities of each consulting firm or consortium in order to identify the most suitable option.

Optimizing the route and minimizing impacts

Once selected, the consulting unit will conduct comprehensive surveys, review the proposed alignment and update the pre-feasibility study in order to optimize technical solutions, improve economic efficiency and minimize impacts on key infrastructure and localities along the route.

The feasibility study process will be divided into two stages: an interim report and a final feasibility study report.

The interim report is considered the project’s “framework stage,” defining key elements such as the route alignment, locations of major structures, technologies to be adopted and technical standards.

Authorities expect the consultant to submit the interim report 12 months after signing the contract. After appraisal and approval, the consultant will continue refining the detailed dossier before submitting the final report around the 27th month. Final approval of the feasibility study is expected after approximately 30 months of implementation.

Notably, during the feasibility study phase, the consultant will also prepare documentation for selecting investors or contractors responsible for the project’s future construction stages.

According to the Thang Long PMU, one key requirement is for the consultant to propose a suitable division of the project into sub-projects and phased investment packages.

The goal is to allow Vietnam to begin operating certain sections of the high-speed railway before 2035 while gradually building experience in managing and operating a modern rail system.

Project representatives noted that Resolution 172 issued by the National Assembly created a flexible implementation framework that would allow some independent sections or project components to begin earlier if necessary.

The provision allowing construction to begin during the 2026-2028 period is also intended to create room for early implementation of certain components without requiring amendments to the resolution.

Under the current plan, land clearance will be divided into 15 independent projects managed by local authorities, while power infrastructure relocation will be handled separately by Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Land clearance is scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2028.

The North-South high-speed railway is planned for implementation during the 2026-2035 period. The route will span approximately 1,541 kilometers, placing it among the world’s largest high-speed railway projects currently under development.

Technology partner not yet decided

Regarding the selection of technology providers and transfer partners, the Thang Long PMU emphasized that no specific decision has yet been made.

Under Decree 123, technology partner selection is considered a critical component of the interim feasibility study report and will be researched and proposed by the consultant based on international experience and Vietnam’s practical conditions.

“Regulatory authorities will assign the research task to the consultant. Competent agencies will then review the proposals and decide on the most suitable technology supply and transfer partner,” a project representative said.

During the feasibility study phase, funding will come from the state budget. However, the final investment model for project implementation will depend on the study’s conclusions and the investment option eventually selected.

According to the Thang Long PMU, the biggest expectation is that the selected consultant will deliver a practical and feasible investment strategy aligned with Vietnam’s financial capacity and real-world conditions.

Vu Diep