Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired a meeting to review the issuance of standards and regulations related to the North-South high-speed railway project – Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi
Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung stated that since April 2025, specialized units and experts have collected and compiled 457 railway industry standards for consideration in the North-South high-speed railway project. These include 202 Vietnamese standards (TCVN), 137 European standards, and 118 Chinese standards. Additionally, existing TCVN technical standards for surveying, testing, and construction materials in the road sector are also applicable to high-speed rail projects.
Based on this, the Ministry of Construction has collaborated with the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop and finalize draft TCVN standards equivalent to international ISO standards. These 37 sets of standards are general and not directly related to the core technologies of high-speed railways.
The Ministry of Construction is expected to issue these 37 ISO-equivalent TCVN standards before October 30.
Once the government selects the technology for the high-speed railway, in addition to the 37 ISO-equivalent TCVN standards, the project will directly apply the standards of the technology-transferring country for key components. This ensures compatibility with the chosen technology and meets safety and quality requirements. Priority will be given to maximizing the use of international standards.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that the ISO-equivalent TCVN standards will serve as the management foundation for the entire project, from surveying, design, and construction to signaling equipment, locomotives, and carriages.
The Ministries of Construction and Science and Technology are urged to expedite the finalization and issuance of these ISO-equivalent TCVN standards, in accordance with the Prime Minister’s directives. This will provide the basis for implementing the next phases of the North-South high-speed railway project.
During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister received updates on the development of legal documents, proposals related to the project, feasibility studies, land clearance, infrastructure relocation, investment modalities, investor selection, and special mechanisms and policies for the project.
Upcoming Completion of High-Speed Rail Standards for the North-South Line
The Ministry of Construction, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, is developing and finalizing drafts for 37 Vietnamese standards, ensuring alignment with international ISO standards.
Proposed Renaming of the North-South High-Speed Railway
The Ministry of Construction has proposed renaming the North-South high-speed railway to the “high-speed railway on the North-South axis,” spanning approximately 1,541 km (a 4 km reduction from the original plan). Notably, the Vinh – Nha Trang segment will be prioritized for investment, advancing its timeline to before 2030, instead of after as initially scheduled.
Unified Land Database: Ensuring Accuracy, Completeness, Cleanliness, and Real-Time Updates
Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà emphasized that the land database is a critical national database, yet its development, management, and operation remain limited and inconsistent due to insufficient and unreliable data. Therefore, the land database project must clearly define its objectives and ensure the collection of data that is “accurate, complete, clean, and up-to-date.”
New Gia Lai Provincial Directive on Land Clearance for the North-South High-Speed Railway Project
The People’s Committee of Gia Lai Province has recently directed efforts to finalize the land clearance project dossier for the North-South High-Speed Railway project passing through the province.
Cracking Down on Unregulated Parking Lots: Hanoi Intensifies Inspections and Enforcement
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has instructed the Hanoi People’s Committee to thoroughly review and take strict action against parking lots and vehicle custodial services currently operating on vacant land not designated within the official parking lot and station planning framework.
