Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi is embarking on its largest-ever urban railway investment programme with the simultaneous launch of five metro lines stretching more than 300 km, aimed at strengthening connectivity between Noi Bai International Airport, Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, emerging urban areas and the city centre, while shaping the capital's development landscape for decades to come.

Construction on metro lines No. 1, 2, 8, 10 and 14 officially began on June 22. The projects form a key part of Hanoi's strategy to develop a mass rapid transit network, gradually realise its urban railway master plan and support urban expansion in multiple directions. The Vinhomes–VinSpeed consortium has been appointed as the EPC contractor (engineering, procurement and construction) for all five projects. The city aims to substantially complete the lines by 2030.

Among the projects, Line 1 is the largest in terms of investment scale. The 81-km route has an estimated investment of 389.53 trillion VND (14.8 billion USD). Line 1 links the Hung Vuong Stadium area, Ngoc Hoi, Hanoi Station, Gia Lam and Noi Bai International Airport. It will serve as an important north–south corridor, connecting the urban rail network with the national railway, high-speed rail and the airport.

The 56.5km-long Line 2 also connects the capital to Noi Bai airport, going through the historic city centre via Nam Thang Long, Hoan Kiem Lake, Tran Hung Dao, Thuong Dinh and southern urban areas.

Line 8 is roughly 91km in length, linking the Hoa Lac High‑Tech Park with logistics zones, industrial parks and eastern growth centres of the capital.

A closed circular route, Line 10 is approximately 43km long and connects Co Loa, Vo Chi Cong, Ring Road 3, Ring Road 2.5 and Times City before returning to Co Loa, helping to reduce traffic pressure in the inner city.

Line 14 is around 32km long, connecting the Thang Long Bridge and Ciputra area through central Hanoi to Ocean Park and the city’s eastern districts, supporting new urban development and strengthening regional links.

Under the capital’s master plan for 2021–2030, Hanoi authorities intend to develop 18 urban rail lines with a total length of approximately 979km. The city aims to complete around 500km of urban rail by 2035, with the remainder to be invested in the 2035–2045 period.

The simultaneous launch of five metro projects marks a major milestone in the development of Hanoi's public transport system and lays the groundwork for the long-term expansion of its urban railway network./.