Train progress smoothly amidst accelerated growth in Hanoi, approaching the fifth stage
Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is set to revolutionize its public transport system with the construction of Metro Line 5, scheduled to begin in December this year. The new line, spanning nearly 40km, will connect several urban railway routes and monorail M2, aiming to alleviate the city's worsening congestion and accommodate its rapidly growing population.
The line will pass through densely populated wards and suburban areas, connecting the Văn Cao-Hoàng Hoa Thám intersection to Thạch Bình station in Hoa Lạc commune. Two branch lines, measuring 4.8km in total, will connect the system to depot sites in Son Do and Hoa Lac communes.
The larger of the two depots, spanning 32 hectares in Son Do, is shared with line 8. The smaller depot, covering 10.4 hectares and situated within a residential area in Hoa Lac, will serve line 5 exclusively. The Ha Noi Metropolitan Railway Management Board has been tasked with announcing the detailed plan and setting boundary markers.
The approved plan includes a mixed alignment with 6.5km underground, 2km elevated, and nearly 30km at ground level. The design follows the international standard 1,435mm double-track format. The alignment for line No 5 cuts across several urban wards including Tay Ho, Ngoc Ha, Giai Ngoc Vo, and Lang, as well as suburban communes such as Son Do, An Khahn, and Yen Xuan.
The plan includes a total of 20 stations - six underground, three elevated, and 11 at-grade. The stations will primarily be located along the Thăng Long Avenue and Hoa Lạc-Hoa Bình Highway corridors.
The precise planning for the construction of Metro Line 5 was created by the institution responsible for the detailed design, typically a specialized urban rail or transportation planning agency in Vietnam. However, the specific name of this institution has not been disclosed in the search results. The Ha Noi Planning and Construction Institute, with technical review by the Ha Noi Planning and Architect Institute, developed a detailed layout for the urban railway line No 5 at a 1:500 scale.
If completed on schedule, line No 5 could become a defining element of Hanoi's urban future, laying the groundwork for a modern, integrated public transport system that extends well beyond the city centre. The interconnected approach is essential for tackling Hanoi's worsening congestion and accommodating its rapidly growing population. The total cost of the project is VNĐ65.4 trillion (US$2.46 billion).
Local ward and commune authorities are now responsible for managing the marked boundaries and land designated for railway construction. The Ha Noi Metropolitan Railway Management Board is expected to provide further updates on the project's progress in the coming months.
