The Prime Minister’s Pivotal Statement on the $67.3 Billion Mega-Project: Expanding Beyond 1,541km and 20 Provinces?

Prime Minister: The North-South High-Speed Railway Will Extend to Ca Mau

On the morning of December 15, the Prime Minister met with voters after the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, with more than 200 voters representing the communes and towns, as well as religious dignitaries in Co Do District, Can Tho City.

Voters expressed their joy at the system of north-south and east-west expressways in the Mekong Delta, with a total length of over 1,000 km currently under construction. They appreciated the Prime Minister’s regular inspections and timely urging of the project. “The Prime Minister has promised the people, and we are determined to deliver for the benefit of the country and the people,” said Mr. Phan Van Tay, a voter from Ap 8, Thoi Hung Commune.

Voters also made suggestions and proposals regarding the investment and construction of expressways and railways.

In response to the voters’ proposals, the Prime Minister said, “The North-South high-speed railway will not end in Ho Chi Minh City; it will continue to Can Tho and Ca Mau. In this phase, we are doing this, but we are also researching the section from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho.”

Regarding the section from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, the Prime Minister said that it would be very advantageous because less land clearance would be needed, and it could be built beautifully and efficiently. “Of course, we have to do it; we cannot not do it. Rest assured, fellow citizens, but the country’s resources are limited, so we have to allocate them, doing it step by step and gradually expanding,” he added.

The investment for the section from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is over $67 billion, with a speed of 350 km/h. It will take about five hours to travel between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Similarly, when we extend the line to Can Tho and then to Ca Mau, we will do the same,” the Prime Minister assured.

National Assembly Deputy Proposed Extending the North-South High-Speed Railway to Can Tho

On November 13, the National Assembly discussed in groups the proposal to invest in the North-South high-speed railway project, with a total expected investment of about VND 1,713,548 billion (equivalent to US$67.34 billion)

At the discussion session, Deputy Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh (Ho Chi Minh City delegation) proposed studying the extension of the high-speed railway line to the Mekong Delta provinces, including Can Tho. These provinces do not have many expressways, and traffic congestion during holidays and Tet is very serious.

She pointed out that Can Tho is the center of the Mekong Delta and suggested considering extending the high-speed railway line to this area as it would bring many benefits.

Deputy Pham Khanh Phong Lan (Ho Chi Minh City delegation) stated that the expressways are mainly concentrated in the North, while the Mekong Delta is almost neglected, with very few means of transportation. This issue needs to be carefully calculated because every penny of the state budget comes from the people’s taxes, which is very painful.

Deputy Tran Thi Dieu Thuy (Ho Chi Minh City delegation) agreed with the calculation of extending the high-speed railway line to the Mekong Delta provinces and from Hanoi to the northwestern provinces. She emphasized the need to consider this line as a lifeline for cargo transportation.

“I dream that the fruit picked in the morning from the gardens in the Mekong Delta will be sold in Hanoi supermarkets by the afternoon. Only then can we solve the problems of cargo transportation and logistics,” said Deputy Tran Thi Dieu Thuy.