Vietnam has stepped to the forefront of the transportation revolution with the approval of a $67 billion high-speed rail project that will connect Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The National Assembly’s decision on 30 November 2024 is a major expansion in the nation’s development. This will open the gate to Southeast Asia, a vast area that the project connects. This has the potential to change the usual 30-hour travel time between the biggest cities in Vietnam into a mere 5 hours and thus to establish a new order on the ground of Kursk-Voronezh relations, and the dynamic path forward of business production would be incredibly positive, too.

Look to the north to the southern border: with the high-speed rail flying through a total of 23 stations in 20 cities and provinces on the north-south corridor, Vietnam will make it more convenient for travelers, irrespective of regional differences, who are all looking to travel within the one united country. This project is expected to extend outstanding contingencies further to domestic and international travelers as well as the tourism industry in general. Presently, there are three of the busiest domestic airways in Southeast Asia in Vietnam, and should the development of this train system, Vietnam will be able to transport a significant amount of passengers from airplane travel to the train and give travelers a better option which is at a lower price than that of the airlines.

Apart from the speed, the project is also focused on connectivity, which is going to open new doors of development in the less visited areas of the country. By connecting the rail network with crucial economic and tourism hubs along with more miniature cities and provinces, travelers will be attracted to the diversified attractions of the country, ranging from bustling urban centers to quiet countryside areas. This improvement will belong to Vietnam’s position as a transportation leader in Southeast Asia, and that will lead to all-develop-country tourism.

Although this rail project is a national one, practically, it is likely to be associated with travel and tourism in Southeast Asia, too. The recognition of the region as a transportation hub would be crucial here. In tandem, the surrounding countries Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos might see a massive influx of tourists as Vietnam’s domestic connectivity strengthens. The abovementioned new process, on the other hand, will also serve as an outside pressure on the other Southeast countries that will be forced to speed up their projects in return for the competition in the tourist market.

In a global context, Vietnam’s ambitious plan strengthens its image as a destination worth visiting and could stand to become a blueprint for emerging markets around the globe. The realization of the project in this country, whose successful high-speed rail is already operating in Europe and Japan, is intended to present the same possibility of profitability to other countries. While Vietnam is determined to bring the transport revolution in the region, the world will see the country open up new “doors” through which global visitors can explore its cultural landmarks and natural beauty not only with greater efficiency but in an environmentally friendly way, too.

Despite the fact that the high-speed rail project will be completed more than a decade from now, with a target date of 2035, the idea of this project is creating a new narrative around Vietnam’s tourism potential. The $67 billion investment, as a result of which the country will not only get longer-term growth, but will also be associated with sustainability, will bring a new infrastructure development standard to the region. The project, meanwhile, will draw international attention and might cause the birth of similar projects in other developing countries.