Only One Consortium Bids for Vietnam’s North–South High-Speed Rail Feasibility Study Contract
Bidding opened on November 6, 2026, for a feasibility study consulting contract for Vietnam’s North–South high-speed railway. Only one consortium, comprising four foreign and four Vietnamese firms, submitted a bid for the VND10.78 trillion contract. The result is expected in November.
The Thang Long Project Management Board under Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction opened bids on November 6, 2026, for consulting package TV-02 for the North–South high-speed railway project. It received a bid from just one consortium, comprising four foreign firms and four Vietnamese firms. The package is worth VND10.78 trillion (about $431.2 million) and covers surveys and preparation of the project’s feasibility study report. The board will evaluate the bid in accordance with regulations and plans to announce the result in November.
Illustrative image related to the tender for a consulting package for Vietnam’s North–South high-speed railway project.（VietVance）
Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction expects to sign the TV-02 contract by the end of 2026. The selected consultant will study the route, determine the land acquisition area and mark its boundaries on the ground. Under the plan, the feasibility study report will be completed after 12 months. The consultant must also finalize the overall technical design and tender documents in preparation for construction packages in the next phase.
The board said the large volume of work and complex technical requirements mean the consultant must have sufficient experience, professional capacity and financial resources. The study will cover technology, investment options, financing and project effectiveness, providing a basis for assessing the potential involvement of non-state funding. Domestic and foreign investors may participate through public-private partnerships if the conditions for investment effectiveness and returns are met.
In May 2026, the board held an event to introduce package TV-02 and seek feedback from high-speed rail consulting firms. Representatives of several embassies and more than 80 Vietnamese and foreign consulting firms and other businesses attended.
The planned North–South high-speed railway will run 1,541 kilometers through 15 provinces and cities, connecting Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi with Thu Thiem Station in Ho Chi Minh City. It is designed as a double-track line with a 1,435 mm gauge and a design speed of 350 km per hour, with 23 passenger stations and five freight stations. Preliminary total investment exceeds $67.34 billion. Under the plan, the feasibility study report will be prepared and approved between 2026 and 2028, construction will begin at the end of 2026, and the project will be substantially completed in 2035.
Source: VietVance
