Vietnam’s tale of two metros, one built by the Japanese and the other by the Chinese
Delays and cost overruns are to be expected as the nation tries to recreate the transportion systems of its two largest cities, but accidents and mistakes on the Chinese-led project are feeding into some longstanding prejudices
For the first time in their histories, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are both in the middle of desperately needed major metro-system projects that aim to transform their cities. Both are facing delays, but a series of high-profile accidents has already cast a larger shadow over the Chinese-led effort in the capital.
In contrast, the metro project led by Japanese conglomerates in Ho Chi Minh City has been accident-free. This feeds into longstanding assumptions in Vietnam about the perceived superiority of Japanese workmanship and engineering.
In both cities, it’s clear big changes are afoot. The centre of Ho Chi Minh City, the nation’s economic capital, appears to be one massive construction site. This year blue hoarding has cut off major streets and crept up to landmarks such as the Opera House and Ben Thanh Market, leaving downtown a far cry from the pictures on postcards. Street maps created just a year ago are largely useless, and getting around can be a nightmare.
The first line of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro system, the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien line, will cover 19.7km, mostly above ground, and connect the city centre with eastern districts. It is expected to begin operation in 2020, two years later than originally planned.
To the north, Hanoi’s first metro line is further along, with a completion date estimated for early 2018, but well beyond initial estimates of December 2016. The Cat Linh-Ha Dong line will stretch 13km on an elevated railway and act as the first segment of a citywide network.
