Vietnam is set to dramatically cut travel time between Hanoi and Halong Bay with a new high-speed rail link that will connect the two in just 30 minutes.
Once completed in 2028, the high-speed rail will provide tourists with the ability to visit both Hanoi and Halong Bay in one day.
Running about 120 km long, the fully electrified railway is capable of reaching a top speed of 350 km/h, connecting the four cities and provinces of Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.
A key benefit will be the quickened link from Hanoi to Quang Ninh – famed for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Halong Bay – which will eventually take just 30 minutes by rail compared to the current three hours by road.
Adding the Quang Ninh stop will also boost China connectivity, since it shares a land and sea border with the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Five planned stations are planned, beginning at Co Loa Station in Hanoi and terminating near Tuan Chau public park. There will also be a depot at Ha Long Xanh for operations, maintenance and train storage.
The high-speed Ha Noi–Quang Ninh railway is Vietnam’s second such project, following the North-South line from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Construction work is expected to start in 2027 for the latter, with the first trains to be operational by 2035.