Transport HCMC High-Speed Rail: $80.4M for Land Acquisition Begins

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Picture courtesy of VN Express

 

Ho Chi Minh City's ambitious high-speed rail project is making headway, with a 17-kilometre section requiring over VND2.1 trillion (approximately 2.95 billion Thai Baht) for land acquisition and clearance. This section, integral to the expansive north-south route, will host the Thu Thiem station over 17 hectares and the Long Truong Depot across 60 hectares.

 

The city has established specialised agencies to draft a comprehensive site preparation strategy, aiming for smooth coordination with neighbouring localities. However, clarity from the Ministry of Construction’s Railway Project Management Board is awaited to finalise specific locations, enabling the identification of lands, compensation disbursement, and resettlement planning. "This is a key national project, and so HCMC is taking proactive steps to ensure progress," affirmed Vo Trung Truc, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, during a recent meeting.

 

Previously, city chairman Nguyen Van Duoc tasked the Department of Finance with determining the project leader, formulating compensation frameworks, and advising on financial strategies. Concurrently, the Department of Construction is tasked with route analysis to prevent overlaps with other projects and evaluate transit-oriented development opportunities at Thu Thiem and Long Truong.

 

Furthermore, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment is working on compensation plans within the transit-oriented development (TOD) model at both sites.

 

Spanning 1,541 kilometres, the high-speed rail will link Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi to Thu Thiem Station in Ho Chi Minh City. Sanctioned by the National Assembly at a projected cost of VND1.7 quadrillion (about 2.39 trillion Thai Baht), the railway boasts a standard 1,435 mm dual-gauge track designed to achieve speeds of up to 350 kph, featuring 23 passenger stations and five cargo hubs.

 

The project, slated for completion by 2035, is a financial collaboration involving public investment and other funding channels. Preliminary assessments indicate that approximately 10,800 hectares of land will be required, displacing over 120,000 residents in the process.

 

The Ministry of Construction is currently preparing a feasibility study to cement the project's viability, poised to transform Vietnam’s transport landscape significantly.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-11