Vietnam is considering building a high-speed railway that runs along the country’s length with a possible price tag of up to $58.7 billion, the government said on Sunday.
The transport ministry of Vietnam will next month submit a proposal to build the 1,545 km (960 miles) railway to the Politburo, the government said in a news release.
Vietnam, a regional manufacturing hub, is ramping up its investment in transport infrastructure to support its fast-growing economy, the Reuters reported.
According to the source, the first two sections with combined length of 665 km (413 miles) and total investment of $24.72 billion would be open to traffic by 2032, the government said, adding that the entire project would be completed by 2045-2050.
In Vietnam, all railways are government run but they have allowed private companies to furnish and service luxury cars which are attached to the state trains. Tracks span the length of the country and generally run near the coast which can make for nice views.
Nearly all major tourist destinations can be reached by train and in most cases it is faster than taking the bus and certainly more relaxing. One of the only popular places unreachable by train is Dalat in the central highlands which one can get to by train or plane.
Vietnamese trains are not always on time. Often there is a delay, sometimes several hours. Do not plan your connecting flight without a significant break between train arrival and your next departure.