It’s hard to see other people living your dream, but I am happy that at least someone is getting high-speed rail, even if it isn’t happening in the US. Vietnam approved construction of a high-speed rail that will require $67 billion in funding. The bullet train will connect Hanoi all the way down to Ho Chi Minh city, and construction will begin in 2027.
The train is planned to start operating in 2035—though critics worry the planned construction will take much longer given the delays of previous projects. When it is complete, it will run through 20 provinces and cities with 23 passenger stations, running a total of 957 miles and traveling at speeds up to 217 miles per hour.
“This project is pivotal for restructuring transport shares and serves as a cornerstone for Vietnam’s leap into a new era of growth,” said Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy in a statement to the press.
Currently, the journey between Hanoi in Northern Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in Southern Vietnam takes more than 30 hours. With the bullet train, you can do it in five hours.
As planned construction is still two years away, the details on exactly how the train will function are not totally clear. The price of a ticket between the two cities, plus prices for tickets for stops between them, have yet to be determined. Right now, you can take a luxury train ride between the two cities for just over $8,000 for an eight-night journey—or you can take a non-luxury train for about $90.
Hopefully this high speed rail news inspires the US to get it moving on our own ultra-fast trains.
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