Construction Has Started on a High-Speed Rail Line Linking Hanoi and Ha Long Bay

Vietnam has officially broken ground on a high-speed rail line linking Hanoi to Ha Long Bay through Quang Ninh province — the country's first genuine high-speed rail construction to actually begin, separate from (and moving faster than) the much larger, still-in-planning North–South line between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The bigger Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City line — a $67 billion, 1,541km project designed for 350km/h operation — is aiming to start construction before the end of 2026, with substantial completion not expected until 2035. The Hanoi–Ha Long line is the more immediately relevant one for travelers, given it directly serves one of Vietnam's most-visited destinations.

Once running, it should meaningfully cut the current 3–4 hour road journey from Hanoi to the bay — worth checking progress on if a Ha Long Bay trip is a few years out rather than immediate.