VIETNAM TARGETS OVER 30 AIRPORTS, 25 RAILWAY LINES BY 2050

Operational Metro Line 1 in HCMC - PHOTO: LE VU

HCMC – Vietnam plans to expand its nationwide civil aviation network to more than 30 airports by 2050, with total capacity reaching 533 million passengers per year.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh told the National Assembly on April 20, as the country accelerates decentralization and diversifies funding sources for transport infrastructure.

Currently, there are 22 airports nationwide with a combined capacity of 155 million passengers annually. To more than triple this capacity by 2050, the construction sector will focus on upgrading existing facilities while prioritizing private investment through public-private partnerships (PPP), the minister said.

For railways, the approved master plan envisions 25 lines with a total length of 6,658 kilometers. In addition to seven existing lines, 18 new routes spanning more than 4,148 kilometers will be developed to strengthen interregional connectivity and ease pressure on road transport.

In addition, Vietnam has so far put 3,345 kilometers of expressways into operation and is building another 1,252 kilometers, expected to be completed by 2027. Notably, fully developed expressways with four to six lanes now account for 37% of the total planned network.

Regarding administrative management, under the decentralization policy effective July 1, the Ministry of Construction has transferred the management of more than 17,500 kilometers of national highways to local authorities, retaining control of over 4,800 kilometers tied to BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) projects and national defense and security.

As for urban rail, Vietnam currently operates 41 kilometers across three metro lines, two in Hanoi and one in HCMC. Under the plan, the network will be significantly expanded to 18 lines in Hanoi and 12 in HCMC, with a combined length exceeding 2,200 kilometers.

Meanwhile, maritime and inland waterway infrastructure has also grown, with total port capacity reaching around 955 million tons per year, up 1.3 times compared to 2020, helping secure the country’s export capacity and cargo transport needs in the next phase of development.

Source: The Saigon Times