HANOI CITY PREPARES US$$1.5 BILLION METRO EXTENSION

Hanoi Metro trains at the Lang Station in Dong Da District - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Hanoi City will hold an international market consultation next month for the over-US$1.5-billion extension of Metro Line 2A linking the city center with the satellite urban area of Xuan Mai, the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) said.

The Early Market Engagement (EME) event will take place in Hanoi on June 18-19 ahead of formal bidding procedures for the project.

The event, organized with support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), is open to contractors, suppliers, consultants and other potential partners with experience in urban railway projects.

MRB estimated the project’s preliminary cost at more than US$1.5 billion. Funding is expected to come from AIIB loans and counterpart capital from the Vietnamese Government.

A feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED) began in February 2026 and are scheduled for completion in October 2026.

The study covers engineering design, environmental and social impact assessments, resettlement planning, implementation strategy and procurement plans.

MRB said the consultation process aims to gather feedback on project design, contract packaging, risk allocation and technical solutions before finalizing the bidding structure.

The Metro 2A extension is part of the first phase of Hanoi’s three-stage urban railway development plan.

Under the preliminary plan, the elevated line will run about 20 kilometers along National Highway 6, which is being expanded. The route will have 12 elevated stations, 13 four-car train sets and a depot near Xuan Mai station covering about 8.3 hectares.

The project is designed to be fully compatible with the existing Cat Linh-Ha Dong Metro Line 2A.

According to preliminary assessments, the line will directly serve around 500,000 residents along the corridor and help reduce traffic congestion on National Highway 6 and the Mai Linh Bridge gateway area in southwestern Hanoi.

MRB is studying an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract model covering civil works, railway systems and rolling stock. The agency also plans to appoint a project management consultant to oversee implementation and progress control.

Prequalification documents for the EPC package are expected to be issued in the fourth quarter of this year, with the contract targeted for award in the fourth quarter of 2027.

During the EME event, the first day will focus on Hanoi’s urban railway development strategy, the existing Cat Linh-Ha Dong line, investment plans for the extension project, and procurement policies of AIIB and Vietnam.

Source: The Saigon Times