The "backbone" of a multi-polar city
The effectiveness of the urban railway (UR) system in Hanoi has been clearly shown through the figure of more than 20 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 15% compared to 2024. Trains operating on time, civilized travel space are gradually building trust, encouraging people to switch from personal vehicles to public transport.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Hoang Kien (University of Transport), this change contributes to reducing traffic pressure on key arterial roads such as Nguyen Trai - Tran Phu and Ho Tung Mau - Xuan Thuy - Cau Giay. Not only meeting travel needs, the metro also contributes to forming a modern traffic culture, reflected in the image of people queuing to buy tickets and civilized behavior at stations.
Notably, the metro is playing an important role in the "Green Hanoi" construction strategy. With its non-CO2 emission characteristics, this type of transport is considered the key to helping the city move towards sustainable development goals.
In the Capital Planning with a 100-year vision, the urban railway system is identified as the backbone infrastructure, playing a leading role in reorganizing urban space. According to Mr. Dao Minh Tam - Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture, urban railway development will contribute to removing bottlenecks in traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
According to the plan, 5 new metro lines will connect the development poles, from Noi Bai airport through the central area to the south of Hanoi City and from Hoa Lac to the East. This not only expands the development space but also creates conditions for rebuilding existing areas, especially old apartment buildings, towards forming high-quality residential areas according to the TOD model (urban development associated with public transport).
When the metro network reaches a scale of 100km, the number of passengers is expected to increase sharply, creating motivation to promote the domestic railway industry. The capital is also gradually realizing the "15-minute city" model, where people can access essential amenities around stations.
The problem of resources and gaps to be filled
A noteworthy point is that all 5 new metro lines use public investment capital instead of ODA loans.
Representatives of the Hanoi Department of Finance said that according to the estimated total capital demand for 5 routes, it is about 1.25 million billion VND. To meet this resource, the Capital Law has given Hanoi City more initiative in mobilizing social resources, and at the same time effectively exploiting added value from land funds in TOD areas.
Despite achieving many positive results, the public transport system still has barriers that make a part of the population, especially the elderly, hesitant to access it when the connection between metro and bus routes is not really synchronized. The transition from paper cards to chip cards makes it difficult for many elderly people. Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoc - Deputy General Director of Hanoi Metro - said that the unit is implementing many solutions to improve passenger experience, strengthen connection with buses, technology cars and add more utilities at stations.
With specific mechanisms and long-term strategic vision, Hanoi City is facing the opportunity to create a breakthrough in urban transport development. This is a journey to build a civilized and modern Capital.
