Hanoi, April 13 -- Viet Nam broke ground on the Ha Noi-Quang Ninh high-speed railway on April 12, aiming to reduce travel time between the two localities to just 23 minutes-five to seven times faster than current options.

This is the nation's first inter-regional high-speed rail link. The project is being developed by VinSpeed High-Speed Rail Investment and Development JSC, a subsidiary of Vingroup, with a total investment of over VND147 trillion (approximately US$5.6 billion), excluding land clearance costs.

The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. It will span 120.2 km, passing through four provinces and cities: Ha Noi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh.

Designed to meet international standards, the line will fea...