List of railway lines in Vietnam
Encyclopedia
This list enumerates railway lines in Vietnam. The Vietnamese railway system
is owned and primarily operated by the state-owned Vietnam Railways
, although private railway companies also offer special service to key destinations. Its principal route is the 1726 km (1,072.5 mi) single track
North-South Railway
line running between Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh City
; as of 2007, 85% of the network's passenger volume and 60% of its cargo volume is transported along this line. Besides this one, the system includes lines connecting Hanoi to the People's Republic of China
, to surrounding cities such as Thái Nguyên, Hai Phong and Ha Long
.
Most existing Vietnamese railway lines use metre gauge
, although standard gauge
(used in China
) and mixed gauge are used northeast of Hanoi. As of 2005, approximately 2600 km (1,615.6 mi) of track was in use throughout Vietnam—2169 km (1,347.8 mi) meter gauge, 178 km (110.6 mi) standard gauge and 253 km (157.2 mi) mixed gauge. As of 2005, there were 278 stations on the Vietnamese railway network, 191 of which are located along the North-South Railway line.
New railway lines have been proposed for construction, such as the 1570 km (975.6 mi) high-speed
North-South Express Railway
connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which would reduce travel times from 30 hours to 6 hours. Other proposals aim to restore or completely rebuild previously existing lines that fell into disuse after the French Indochina War and the Vietnam War
, such as the Da Lat–Thap Cham
line, which now serves only to ferry tourists between Đà Lạt and the nearby village of Trại Mát. International links to Cambodia
and Laos
are also under consideration.
North-South Express Railway
connecting Ha Noi
and Ho Chi Minh City
, valued at approximately USD
56 billion. Due to its cost, plans for the line are currently on hold pending further study of the project. Other projects involve the restoration of previously existing lines, such as the Da Lat–Tháp Chàm
line and the Ho Chi Minh City–Loc Ninh
, both of which were originally built in the 1930s, but fell into disuse after decades of war. The Ho Chi Minh City–Loc Ninh line, along with a new Mu Gia–Vung Ang line, would permit new international railway links to Cambodia
and Laos
, respectively.
Rail transport in Vietnam
The railway system in Vietnam is owned and operated by the state-owned Vietnam Railways . The principal route, the single track North-South Railway running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, accounts for of the network's total length of...
is owned and primarily operated by the state-owned Vietnam Railways
Vietnam Railways
The railway system in Vietnam is operated by the state-owned Vietnam Railways . The principal route is the thousand-mile single track North-South Railway line, running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This was built at the metre gauge in the 1880s during the French colonial rule...
, although private railway companies also offer special service to key destinations. Its principal route is the 1726 km (1,072.5 mi) single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
North-South Railway
North-South Railway, Vietnam
The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge...
line running between Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
and Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
; as of 2007, 85% of the network's passenger volume and 60% of its cargo volume is transported along this line. Besides this one, the system includes lines connecting Hanoi to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, to surrounding cities such as Thái Nguyên, Hai Phong and Ha Long
Ha Long
Hạ Long also known as Hong Gai, Hon Gai and Hongay, is the capital city of Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The city mainly lies on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is part of the Hạ Long Bay. It is located at about 160 km northeast of Hanoi...
.
Most existing Vietnamese railway lines use metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
, although standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
(used in China
Rail transport in the People's Republic of China
Rail transport is the most commonly used mode of long-distance transportation in the People's Republic of China. Almost all rail operations are handled by the Ministry of Railways, which is part of the State Council of the People's Republic of China...
) and mixed gauge are used northeast of Hanoi. As of 2005, approximately 2600 km (1,615.6 mi) of track was in use throughout Vietnam—2169 km (1,347.8 mi) meter gauge, 178 km (110.6 mi) standard gauge and 253 km (157.2 mi) mixed gauge. As of 2005, there were 278 stations on the Vietnamese railway network, 191 of which are located along the North-South Railway line.
New railway lines have been proposed for construction, such as the 1570 km (975.6 mi) high-speed
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
North-South Express Railway
North-South Express Railway (Vietnam)
North-South Express Railway is a proposed express railway in Vietnam. The line would begin in Hanoi, crossing provinces and municipalities of Hà Nội, Hà Tây, Hà Nam, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hoá, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên,...
connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which would reduce travel times from 30 hours to 6 hours. Other proposals aim to restore or completely rebuild previously existing lines that fell into disuse after the French Indochina War and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, such as the Da Lat–Thap Cham
Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway
The Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway or Da Lat-Phan Rang Railway was an rack railway connecting the city of Da Lat to the main North-South Railway at Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province. It was established by the French administration of Indochina in 1932 after thirty years of construction in phases,...
line, which now serves only to ferry tourists between Đà Lạt and the nearby village of Trại Mát. International links to Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
are also under consideration.
Current lines
| Description | Established | Length | Stations | Travel time | Gauge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North-South Railway North-South Railway, Vietnam The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge... |
1936 | 1726 km (1,072.5 mi) | 191 | 30 hrs | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
The Ha Noi Hanoi Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam... –Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam... line is the primary railway line serving Vietnam. Trains travelling this line are sometimes referred to as the Reunification Express North-South Railway, Vietnam The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge... . This line should not be confused with the proposed North-South Express Railway North-South Express Railway (Vietnam) North-South Express Railway is a proposed express railway in Vietnam. The line would begin in Hanoi, crossing provinces and municipalities of Hà Nội, Hà Tây, Hà Nam, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hoá, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên,... (see below). Major stations
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| Hanoi–Lao Cai | 1906 | 296 km (183.9 mi) | 40 | 10 hrs | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
|
The railway link from Hanoi Hanoi Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam... to Lao Cai Lao Cai Lào Cai is a city in northeastern Vietnam. It is the capital of Lao Cai province. The city borders the city of Hekou, in the Yunnan province of Southwest China. It lies at the junction of the Red River and the Nam Ti River approximately 160 miles northwest of Hanoi... was originally built by the French administration of Indochina French Indochina French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887.... in the early 20th century, as part of an international railway link between Haiphong Haiphong , also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong... and the Chinese city of Kunming Kunming ' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government... . Major stations
International links  KunmingKunming ' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government... , China (currently suspended) |
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| Hanoi–Dong Dang | 1902 | 163 km (101.3 mi) | 23 | 4.25 hrs | Mixed gauge Dual gauge A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail... |
Dong Dang is a station at the Vietnamese border with China, forming a part of the international Hanoi-Nanning rail link. Major stations
International links NanningNanning Nanning is the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. It is known as the "Green City" because of its abundance of lush tropical foliage.-History:... , China |
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| Kep–Ha Long | 1950s | 106 km (65.9 mi) | 12 | 4.5 hrs | Standard gauge Standard gauge The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge... |
Major stations
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| Hanoi–Haiphong | 1902 | 102 km (63.4 mi) | 18 | 2.5 hrs | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
 Hanoi Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam... to Haiphong Haiphong , also Haiphong, is the third most populous city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence".-History:Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters in the year 43 C.E.The area which is now known as Duong... was originally built by the French administration of Indochina French Indochina French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887.... in the early 20th century, as part of an international railway link between Haiphong and the Chinese city of Kunming Kunming ' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government... . Major stations
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| Hanoi–Thai Nguyen | 1962 | 75 km (46.6 mi) | 14 | ?? | Mixed gauge Dual gauge A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail... |
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Also known as the Hanoi-Quan Trieu line or the Dong Anh-Quan Trieu line. Major stations
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| Thai Nguyen–Kep | 1966 | 57 km (35.4 mi) | 6? | ?? | Standard gauge Standard gauge The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge... |
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The Thai Nguyen–Kep railway line was a strategic, standard-gauge line constructed between October 1965 and December 1966 by a railroad engineering division of the Chinese People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... People's Liberation Army People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China... , who operated in North Vietnam North Vietnam The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout... repairing railway lines at the request of Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh Hồ Chí Minh , born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam... . Major stations
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| Pho Lu–Xuan Giao | ?? | 11 km (6.8 mi) | 2 | ?? | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
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Also called the Pho Lu–Pom Han line. A branch line connected to the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway, south of Lao Cai, used to carry apatite from the mines located along the line to the fertilizer factory located at Tien Kien. |
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| Tien Kien–Bai Bang | ?? | 10.5 km (6.5 mi) | ?? | ?? | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... ? |
A branch line connected to the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway, near Phu Tho. |
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| Da Lat–Trai Mat Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway The Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway or Da Lat-Phan Rang Railway was an rack railway connecting the city of Da Lat to the main North-South Railway at Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province. It was established by the French administration of Indochina in 1932 after thirty years of construction in phases,... |
1932 | 7 km (4.3 mi) | 2 | ?? | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
Part of the rack railway Rack railway A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail... that once connected the towns of Đà Lạt and Tháp Chàm Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm, also called Panduranga, is a new city in Vietnam and the capital of Ninh Thuan province. The community has a population of 161,000 , of which 91,000 live in the main city.... . Since the line's abandonment after the Vietnam War Vietnam War The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of... , only a 7 km section remains in use, running from Da Lat Railway Station Da Lat Railway Station Da Lat Railway Station is a railway station on the Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway line in Vietnam, serving the town of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province. It was designed in 1932 by French architects Moncet and Reveron, and opened in 1938... to the nearby village of Trại Mát, operated as a tourist attraction. See Đà Lạt–Tháp Chàm Railway below. Major stations
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| Tien Kien–Lam Thao | ?? | 4.1 km (2.5 mi) | ?? | ?? | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
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A branch line connected to the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway, near Phu Tho. Originally served a military complex. |
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Proposed lines
Several railway lines have been proposed for construction in Vietnam in recent years. The largest such project is the high-speedHigh-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
North-South Express Railway
North-South Express Railway (Vietnam)
North-South Express Railway is a proposed express railway in Vietnam. The line would begin in Hanoi, crossing provinces and municipalities of Hà Nội, Hà Tây, Hà Nam, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hoá, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên,...
connecting Ha Noi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
and Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, valued at approximately USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
56 billion. Due to its cost, plans for the line are currently on hold pending further study of the project. Other projects involve the restoration of previously existing lines, such as the Da Lat–Tháp Chàm
Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm
Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm, also called Panduranga, is a new city in Vietnam and the capital of Ninh Thuan province. The community has a population of 161,000 , of which 91,000 live in the main city....
line and the Ho Chi Minh City–Loc Ninh
Loc Ninh
Lộc Ninh is a town in southern Vietnam. It is a rural district of Binh Phuoc province in the southeastern region of Vietnam. A major battle, the Battle of Loc Ninh, occurred there during the Vietnam War.-Transport:...
, both of which were originally built in the 1930s, but fell into disuse after decades of war. The Ho Chi Minh City–Loc Ninh line, along with a new Mu Gia–Vung Ang line, would permit new international railway links to Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, respectively.
| Description | Length | Gauge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North-South Express Railway North-South Express Railway (Vietnam) North-South Express Railway is a proposed express railway in Vietnam. The line would begin in Hanoi, crossing provinces and municipalities of Hà Nội, Hà Tây, Hà Nam, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hoá, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên,... |
1570 km (975.6 mi) | Standard gauge Standard gauge The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge... |
||
 Vietnam Railways The railway system in Vietnam is operated by the state-owned Vietnam Railways . The principal route is the thousand-mile single track North-South Railway line, running between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This was built at the metre gauge in the 1880s during the French colonial rule... has proposed a high-speed rail link between Hanoi Hanoi Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam... and Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam... , capable of running at 300 to 350 km/h (186.4 to 217.5 mph). Funding of the $56 billion line would mainly come from the Vietnamese government; reports suggest Japanese development aid could be made available in stages, conditioned on the adoption of Shinkansen Shinkansen The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a... technology. Once completed, the high-speed rail line would allow trains to complete the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City journey in approximately 6 hours. Vietnam's National Assembly rejected the existing plan for the line in June 2010, and asked for further study of the project. Major stations
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| Da Lat–Thap Cham Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway The Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway or Da Lat-Phan Rang Railway was an rack railway connecting the city of Da Lat to the main North-South Railway at Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province. It was established by the French administration of Indochina in 1932 after thirty years of construction in phases,... |
127 km (78.9 mi) | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
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The town of Đà Lạt was once connected by a rack railway Rack railway A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail... to the main north-south line at Tháp Chàm Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm, also called Panduranga, is a new city in Vietnam and the capital of Ninh Thuan province. The community has a population of 161,000 , of which 91,000 live in the main city.... . Construction of the line initially began in 1908. The 38 km (23.6 mi) Tháp Chàm–Sông Pha Song Pha Song Pha is a town in Ninh Son District, on the western side of Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. It is located at the foot of the scenic Ngoan Muc Pass . It lies along Highway 27A, about northwest of Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm.... section opened in 1919, and the second section, running 43 km (26.7 mi) from Sông Pha to Đà Lạt, opened in 1932. Since the line's abandonment after the Vietnam War Vietnam War The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of... , only a 7 km section remains in use, running from Da Lat Railway Station Da Lat Railway Station Da Lat Railway Station is a railway station on the Da Lat–Thap Cham Railway line in Vietnam, serving the town of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province. It was designed in 1932 by French architects Moncet and Reveron, and opened in 1938... to the nearby village of Trại Mát, operated as a tourist attraction. A proposed renewal project, backed by provincial and local governments, aims to restore the original Đà Lạt–Tháp Chàm railway to handle both passenger and cargo transportation. Major stations
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| Ho Chi Minh City–Vung Tau | 110 km (68.4 mi) | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
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A new railway line connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau Vung Tàu Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism... , a port on the South China Sea South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around... , has been proposed. The line would serve both freight and passenger transport. Major stations
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| Di An–Loc Ninh | 100 km (62.1 mi) | ?? | ||
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In 1933, a private railroad connecting Loc Ninh Loc Ninh Lộc Ninh is a town in southern Vietnam. It is a rural district of Binh Phuoc province in the southeastern region of Vietnam. A major battle, the Battle of Loc Ninh, occurred there during the Vietnam War.-Transport:... in Binh Phuoc Province Binh Phuoc Province Bình Phước is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the southeastern region of the country, to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. It shares a border with Cambodia.-History:... to Ben Dong Xo was opened. The line was connected to the main North–South line in 1937, connecting Loc Ninh to Saigon Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam... via Di An Di An Dĩ An, Bình Dương , is a town of Binh Duong Province in the Southeast region of Vietnam. It is about 20 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It is 1706 km by rail from Hanoi. As of 2003 the towan had a population of 136,530... . The route from Di An to Loc Ninh had 17 railway stations. The line was abandoned after 1959, and was dismantled at the conclusion of the Vietnam War. Many portions of the line still exist, although they are largely used by local farmers as access roads to reach their fields; two portions of track near Phu Cuong and Di An have been removed to accommodate urban development. A proposal to refurbish the line was presented in September 2007. The line would begin with a junction of the North-South Railway North-South Railway, Vietnam The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge... at Di An Railway Station Di An Railway Station Di An Railway Station is a railway station on the North-South Railway line in Vietnam. It serves the town of Di An in Binh Duong Province.... , and would end in Loc Ninh, close to the Cambodian border. The railway's cost is estimated at USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... 438 million. In the same year, the Cambodian Ministry of Transportation announced plans to build a railway line to connect Loc Ninh to Phnom Penh Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,... , reportedly with Chinese assistance. The line would be part of the proposed Trans-Asian Railway Trans-Asian Railway The Trans-Asian Railway is a project to create an integrated freight railway network across Europe and Asia. The TAR is a project of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific .- Overview :... . Major stations
International links  Phnom PenhPhnom Penh Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,... , Cambodia Cambodia Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia... |
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| Mu Gia–Vung Ang | ?? | ?? | ||
Plans for a line connecting the Vietnamese railway network to Laos Laos Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west... were originally researched at the turn of the 20th century. In the 1930s, a limited amount of work was done on a railway line connecting Tan Ap, south of Vinh on the North–South line, to Thakhek Thakhek Thakhek is a town in south-central Laos on the Mekong River and facing Nakhon Phanom across the river in northeastern Thailand. It is the capital of Khammouane province.... in Laos, where tin deposits were being exploited at the time. The first 17.5 km (10.9 mi) had been constructed west of Tan Ap by 1933, but construction was eventually abandoned due to poor economic forecasts. The completed line would have been 187 km (116.2 mi) long, travelling under the Mu Gia Pass Mu Gia Pass The Mu Gia Pass is a mountain pass in the Annamite Range between northern Vietnam and Laos, located 90 km northwest of Đồng Hới, Vietnam. The pass is 418 m above sea level and connects Route 15 from Tân Ấp in Vietnam to Route 12 in Khammouane Province in Laos.... via a tunnel. In 2007, the Laotian Ministry of Transportation entered into discussion with Vietnam to discuss the possibility of completing the Thakhek–Tan Ap line, and adding an extension to Vung Ang, a port in Ha Tinh Province which the Vietnamese Government plans to expand. Both Laos and Thailand have expressed interest in the project as a shorter export gateway to the Pacific Ocean. Major stations
International links  ThakhekThakhek Thakhek is a town in south-central Laos on the Mekong River and facing Nakhon Phanom across the river in northeastern Thailand. It is the capital of Khammouane province.... , Laos Laos Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west... |
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Defunct lines
| Description | Established | Length | Gauge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phu Lang Thuong–Lang Son | 1895 | 31 km (19.3 mi) | 600mm Narrow gauge A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :... |
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A strategic line connecting Lang Son Lang Son Lạng Sơn , sometimes Langson, is a city in far northern Vietnam, is the capital of Lang Son province. It is accessible by road and rail from Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, and it is the northernmost point on National Road 1A.-History:... to Phu Lang Thuong (now known as Bac Giang Bac Giang Bắc Giang is a city in Vietnam. It is the capital of the Bac Giang province. Its name, deriving from Sino-Vietnamese, means "north of the river." Bac Giang was formerly a sister city with Madison, Wisconsin, United States.... ), and the first railway line to be built in Tonkin Tonkin Tonkin , also spelled Tongkin, Tonquin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of China's Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. Locally, it is known as Bắc Kỳ, meaning "Northern Region"... . Construction took place from 1890 to 1895, costing around 20 million francs. Originally built at gauge, the line was converted to metre gauge and expanded south to Hanoi and north to the Chinese border at Dong Dang. See Hanoi–Dong Dang Railway above. |
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| Giat–Nghia Dan | — | 30 km (18.6 mi) | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
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An incomplete line that was abandoned before World War II, intended to serve quarries around the town of Nghia Dan. Some traces of the line still exist. |
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| Gia Dinh–Hoc Mon | ?? | 20 km (12.4 mi) | ?? | |
Originally built as a branch line to the Saigon–Cholon tramway, the line fell into disrepair during World War II, and was completely dismantled during the First Indochina War. The line was originally intended to form a link between Saigon and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. |
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| Tan Ap–Thakhek | — | 17.5 km (10.9 mi) | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... ? |
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An incomplete line branching off the North–South Railway towards Laos. See the proposed Mu Gia–Vung Ang line above. |
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| Don Dien Coudoux–Xom Cuc | 1960s | 17 km (10.6 mi) | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... |
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A strategic line built in the 1960s to accelerate the provision of logistical military support on the Ho Chi Minh Trail Ho Chi Minh trail The Ho Chi Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Vietnam through the neighboring kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia... , which began at Xom Cuc and continued south into the Mu Gia Pass Mu Gia Pass The Mu Gia Pass is a mountain pass in the Annamite Range between northern Vietnam and Laos, located 90 km northwest of Đồng Hới, Vietnam. The pass is 418 m above sea level and connects Route 15 from Tân Ấp in Vietnam to Route 12 in Khammouane Province in Laos.... . |
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| Dong Dang–Na Sam | ?? | 15 km (9.3 mi) | Metre gauge Metre gauge Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland... or 600mm Narrow gauge A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :... |
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A strategic line branching off the Hanoi–Dong Dang Railway, following Colonial Road No. 4 towards Cao Bang. Dismantled soon after the First Indochina War. |
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| Mai Pha–Dong | ?? | 7 km (4.3 mi) | Standard gauge Standard gauge The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge... |
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A branch line on the Hanoi–Dong Dang Railway, serving as a bypass of the town of Lang Son to allow Chinese military trains to enter Vietnam during the Vietnam War. |
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| Trang Bom–Ap Thanh Lam | — | ?? | ?? | |
An incomplete line east of Saigon, near Xuan Loc, intended to serve an area of rubber plantations. The line is indicated on certain detailed maps of the era. |
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