Top leader expects Ha Noi to complete 500 km of metro lines in coming years

Speaking at a National Assembly group discussion on August 4, the top Vietnamese leader said Ha Noi has made encouraging progress, particularly in implementing the Capital Master Plan with a 100-year vision.

He noted that the city is translating the master plan into detailed zoning schemes, with clear development orientations for each sector and area. Alongside surface development, Ha Noi has also begun paying greater attention to underground space to create new room for urban growth.

To Lam stressed that the city should simultaneously renovate the historic inner city, develop satellite urban areas, and promote population redistribution.

"Without population redistribution, it will be impossible to reorganize and properly plan the city for sustainable development," he said.

He emphasized that convenient transportation is the key to encouraging people to relocate from the city center. The goal, he said, should be to reduce travel time from new residential areas to Hoan Kiem Lake to around 10–15 minutes.

"When transportation is convenient and new urban areas offer better living conditions, residents will voluntarily move there, creating conditions for the State to renovate and preserve the historic urban core," he added.

To Lam noted that Ha Noi is developing an integrated transport system comprising roads, underground infrastructure, expressways and urban railways to strengthen connectivity between the city center and surrounding urban areas.

The city has launched construction of around 300 km of metro lines and is accelerating implementation to put the projects into operation as soon as possible. Ha Noi is also developing five ring roads, some sections of which are expected to be opened later this year.

To Lam also revealed that Russia has expressed its willingness to support Ha Noi's metro development as a symbol of the friendship between the two countries.

"If Ha Noi can complete around 500 km of urban railway in the coming years, the capital's landscape and people's daily travel will be transformed," he said.

Under Ha Noi's Capital Master Plan with a 100-year vision, the city's urban railway network will comprise 18 lines with a total length of 979 km.

During the 2026–2035 period, Ha Noi plans to invest in building around 500 km of metro lines to establish the backbone of a high-capacity public transport system and promote transit-oriented development (TOD).

Currently, Ha Noi operates 21.5 km of metro lines, including the 13-km Cat Linh–Ha Dong Line and the 8.5-km elevated section of Nhon–Ha Noi Station Metro Line.

In addition to Metro Line 5 (Van Cao–Hoa Lac), which broke ground in late 2025, the city commenced construction of five more metro lines totaling approximately 303.5 km in June 2026. These projects are expected to be substantially completed by 2030./.