The amended Railway Law consists of 4 chapters and 59 Articles, regulating railway activities; rights, obligations and responsibilities of organizations and individuals related to railway activities. The new Railway Law takes effect from January 1, 2026.
The amended Railway Law stipulates high-speed railways as follows:
Article 7 regulating the classification of railways and the granting of railway technical regulations stipulates:
Vietnam's railway system includes:
National railway is a railway that serves the common transportation needs of the whole country and international transportation.
Local railway is a railway that serves the transportation needs of the locality and the economic region. Urban railway is a type of local railway that serves the needs of passenger transport in urban areas and surrounding areas.
Specialized railway is a railway that serves the specific transportation needs of organizations and individuals.
Railway technical standards are determined according to national standards; the organization of the development, appraisal and announcement of standards on railway technical standards is implemented in accordance with the provisions of law on railway technical standards, regulations and technical standards, including:
Railway with a design speed of 200 km/h or higher is a high-speed railway;
Railway with a design speed of less than 200 km/h is divided into levels I, II, III, IV.
Clause 6, Article 52 of the Railway Law stipulates railway safety management, including regulations on high-speed railways. Details are as follows:
High-speed railways, level I railways, newly built or upgraded urban railways must be assessed and system safety certified before being put into operation. The project investor must select a consulting unit independent of project consulting units, construction contractors, and equipment suppliers of the project to organize system safety assessment and certification;
High-speed railways are protected as important works related to national security, must have a strict operation and maintenance process for safety management systems decided by the construction management and operation agency, and must be submitted to the Ministry of Construction;
Organizations and enterprises managing, operating and exploiting railways must build, publicize and maintain a safety management system.
The revised Railway Law also strictly prohibits the following acts: Sabotage of railway works and railway means of transport; disruption of railway traffic safety order and safety. Encroaching and occupying railway traffic safety corridors and railway protection areas; opening the railway crossing without permission from competent authorities.
It is strictly forbidden to distort or cover up railway traffic signals and signals. Arbitrarily signaling or using equipment to stop trains, except in cases where an incident is detected causing unsafe railway traffic.
The law also strictly prohibits acts of: arbitrarily setting obstacles, flammable substances, explosives, toxic substances within the protection area of railway works and railway traffic safety corridors. Controlling a train at a speed exceeding the prescribed speed limit. Railway workers on duty have alcohol concentration in their blood or breath; have drugs or other stimulants in their bodies that are prohibited by law.
