Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway phase 1 to feature single track at 160 km/h

A feasibility study for the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway project proposes a single-track line for its first phase, designed to accommodate speeds of 160 km/h. The 175.2-kilometer route will connect Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, passing through five provinces: Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, and Can Tho.

To mitigate environmental disruption and road intersections, a significant portion of the line, about 56%, is planned to be elevated. The remaining 44% will run at ground level through less populated areas, minimizing flood impact. The project includes 12 stations and 3 depots. The decision for a single track in the first phase is based on projected transport demand, with a double track planned for phase two. Building a double track initially would increase costs by approximately 15.984 trillion VND (about $600 million USD).

The total investment is preliminarily estimated between 171.3 trillion VND ($6.47 billion USD) and 175.11 trillion VND ($6.61 billion USD). These figures depend on whether the railway shares bridges with road traffic, particularly over the Hau River. The project requires significant land acquisition, with about 801.5 hectares needed, including 479.13 hectares of agricultural land. Approximately 11,437 households will require relocation.

Given the scale of the project and the need to mobilize capital, consultants recommend public investment. The proposed timeline includes seeking parliamentary approval for the investment policy in August 2026 and completing the overall technical design by the first quarter of 2028. Land acquisition is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2027.