After Europe unofficially proclaimed its Railway Renaissance, and Latin America followed suit with multiple exciting new train routes, it was only a matter of time until Southeast Asia finally jumped on this bandwagon.
This time, it’s Vietnam doing the honors, and if you’ve ever traveled up and down the country by train, you know how painfully slow those can be.
We’re talking severe delays, an average speed of only 31 mph, and outdated infrastructure still largely dating back to colonial times.
It’s been a long time coming, but soon enough, you’ll be able to board a new high-speed train in Hanoi, the vibrant capital of Vietnam, and travel directly to Ha Long Bay:
Direct Train From Hanoi To Ha Long Will Soon Be A Reality
A natural wonder of Vietnam and the world’s most beautiful bay, Ha Long is a popular weekend getaway for travelers based in Hanoi.
Dotted with imposing limestone karsts, jutting out of the water like pillars, and famous for its unique floating villages and paradisaical islets, covered in dense jungle, this UNESCO-protected reserve is currently best reached by bus from the capital.
Usually, tourists will book guided tours starting early in the morning from Hanoi, and returning late in the evening, though that can be seriously exhausting:
Depending on traffic, it can take anywhere from 2.5 hours to 4 hours to cover the 100 miles separating Hanoi from the entrance of the bay. Feasible as it may be, it still leaves you operating on a tight schedule, with very little to no flexibility.
When Will The Train Launch?
Lucky for us tourists, Vietnamese billionaire and head of VinSpeed Phan Nhat Vuong is keen on building a Hanoi-Ha Long Bay high-speed train, to the tune of VND138.93 trillion (roughly US$5.3 billion).
The project is expected to be approved this quarter, and construction is scheduled to begin immediately, with completion targeted for the last quarter of 2027. The official commercial launch is already set for the first quarter of 2028.
The 74-mile railroad will link the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hanoi to Tuan Chau Ward, the getaway to Ha Long Bay. It will also pass through the Bac Ninh Province and the city of Hai Phong, boosting connectivity in the underdeveloped north of Vietnam.
The train will have a maximum speed of 217 mph, and at the time of its launch in 2028, there will be a departure every 60 minutes.
From 2030 onward, VinSpeed plans on doubling the frequency to every 30 minutes.
More Train Routes Coming Your Way
The ambitious project has already been included in the Vietnamese Government’s rail network planning for the remainder of the decade, so chances it will not go ahead, or it will be severely delayed—remember the Tren Maya saga?—are slim at this point.
Besides the Hanoi-Ha Long line, VinSpeed is confident that national authorities will green-light a high-speed train between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, in the south of the country.
Though there are multiple trains operating on this route, they run much more slowly.
There are 957 miles separating the Vietnamese capital from the more southerly metropolis, and believe it or not, trains average roughly 27-36 mph.
Americans Must Get A Visa Before Flying To Vietnam
If you’re visiting Vietnam as a U.S. passport holder in the future, bear in mind that there are certain rules in place that make traveling a bit more bureaucratic than what you may be used to.
To sum it up, unlike your European friends, you can’t just show up at the airport and board a flight to Vietnam, as easily as that, without holding a pre-authorized eVisa. This can take days, if not weeks to process, depending on their backlog, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Check all the latest entry requirements applying to Americans traveling to Vietnam—and other countries in Southeast Asia—here.
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