Metro line connecting capital with airport needed

Cars and taxis at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

The primary modes of transport connecting the major airport to Hanoi and the surrounding metropolitan area remain cars, taxis and coaches, while there are just two bus routes.

During festive seasons, the risk of congestion originating at the airport is ever-present, causing significant inconvenience for both locals and international visitors.

Du Thi Ha, who now lives and works in Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh City, said she returned to her hometown in My Duc district, Hanoi, twice a year.

“We find it a very challenging journey,” she said.

If she took the bus from the Noi Bai International Airport, she needed to change twice, and it took almost four hours to reach home.

“A one-way taxi ride costs up to nearly 1 million VND (39 USD),” she said.

Similarly, Duong Huu Dat from Vinh Hung ward in Hanoi’s Hoang Mai district said due to work commitments, he travelled abroad four to five times a year and flew to the southern provinces six to seven times.

“To get to the airport, taking the bus requires three changes and nearly three hours of travel. A taxi costs between 300,000 VND and 500,000 VND (11-20 USD) per trip, meaning my annual travel expenses to and from the airport amount to tens of millions of dong,” he said.

Economic management expert Hoang Thi Thu Phuong talked to Kinh te & Do thi (Economy & Urban Affairs) online newspaper, saying that a metro line connecting the airport to central Hanoi was not only vital for residents’ daily lives but also held significant importance for the city’s tourism industry.

Currently, tourists arriving in the capital incur high costs to get from the airport to their destinations by taxi, while those travelling alone face additional challenges in finding suitable transport to attractions or hotels.

“A direct metro link from the airport to the city centre will reduce travel costs and ensure safety and convenience for visitors, making tourism in the capital more appealing and enhancing the city’s friendly image internationally,” she said.

In addition to enhancing passenger convenience, the metro system is seen as a crucial solution to alleviating traffic congestion on routes connecting to the airport.

A representative from Traffic Police Team No. 6 of the Hanoi Police Department said during holidays, festive seasons or even peak hours, the volume of vehicles entering and leaving the airport via Ring Road 3, Ring Road 2 and Nhat Tan Bridge was substantial, mainly being cars and taxis.

If there were a metro line that was both fast and convenient, many passengers would undoubtedly opt for it, helping to ease congestion on key routes, he said.

The Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board said that, under the urban plan, the city was going to develop Metro Line No. 2 to connect the city with the Noi Bai International Airport.

The line was set to run from the Nam Thang Long urban area to Tran Hung Dao street, Thuong Dinh street, Ring Road 2.5, Buoi area, the Noi Bai International Airport and Soc Son district.

This was one of the earliest metro lines envisioned for the capital; however, it has faced numerous hurdles over the years and has yet to be implemented.

The project was expected to start between 2024 and 2025, with full completion anticipated by 2034, and the segment from Nam Thang Long urban area to the airport was set to be operational by 2030.

Currently, the city is making significant efforts to implement Metro Line No. 2, section 2.1, although the project is still awaiting approval for an investment adjustment.

The construction of the metro line’s section 2.1 from Nam Thang Long to Tran Hung Dao street is a national priority for Hanoi, funded by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The feasibility study for the project was approved by the capital People’s Committee under Decision No. 2054/QĐ-UBND on November13, 2008.

The entire line is approximately 11.5 km long, with an elevated section of about 2.6 km and an underground segment of approximately 8.9 km, including a depot covering 17.5 ha in Xuan Dinh ward, Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi.

The line will commence at the Nam Thang Long urban area, following the streets of Nguyen Van Huyen, Hoang Quoc Viet, Hoang Hoa Tham, Thuy Khue, Phan Dinh Phung, Hang Giay, Hang Duong, Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Dinh Tien Hoang, and Hang Bai, and ending at the intersection of Pho Hue and Nguyen Du streets.

The entire route will feature 10 stations, including three elevated and seven underground.

Le Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the city’s Planning and Investment Department, said: “In my view, Metro Line No. 2 is one of the most urgently needed investments.

"It has significant implications for transport and the environment, and is also crucial for the tourism and urban architecture of the capital.”

He added that the line would connect with half of the city’s expanded metro network (with 15 lines) that had recently been planned.

“Therefore, the investment and construction of the metro line is seen as a pressing priority for the capital,” he said.

Additionally, the city also planned Metro Line No. 6, which will link Ngoc Hoi area to the Noi Bai International Airport over a total length of 43 km, scheduled for completion by 2035.

This would serve as a primary metro line connection between the Noi Bai International Airport with the city's second airport in Ung Hoa district.

With the two metro lines, No. 2 and No. 6, the Noi Bai International Airport will be closely linked to the entire metro network of the city.

Transport expert Vu Hoang Chung said the planning was in place, and recently important legal frameworks such as the amended Capital Law and the 2024 Land Law were approved.

“Hanoi must swiftly realise the planning and turn the aspirations of millions of residents for a metro connection to the airport into reality,” he said.

He also expressed his hope that the National Assembly, Government and relevant ministries would focus on facilitating the resolution of challenges and obstacles, allowing the timely implementation and completion of Metro Line No. 2 as planned./.