Infrastructure profile

Nhon–Hanoi Station Metro

Nhon–Hanoi Station Metro is Hanoi's 12.5 km Line 3.1, comprising an 8.5 km elevated section with eight stations from Nhon to Cau Giay and a 4 km underground section with four stations continuing toward Hanoi Station.

Overview

Understand the asset as a connected system of infrastructure, operations and access.

The line must be represented with split status. The elevated Nhon–Cau Giay section has operated commercially since 8 August 2024. The underground section remained under construction in 2026: both TBMs completed the approximately 4 km tunneling journey by April, while Hanoi reported underground construction progress of 79.3% in May. City reporting in February 2026 stated a target of full commercial operation in December 2027; that is a target, not an achieved opening.

Key things to understand

Always separate the operating Nhon–Cau Giay section from the under-construction underground section.
Both TBMs completed tunneling in 2026, but tunneling completion is not passenger-service opening.
The full project is 12.5 km with 12 stations: eight elevated and four underground.
The February 2026 target for full commercial operation was December 2027; treat it as a target.
Keep current fares, timetables and ridership dynamic.
Future Hanoi Station interchange value should not be represented as current operating access.

System perspective

How to understand this infrastructure system

Why it matters

It already provides mass transit to western Hanoi and will become far more useful when the underground section reaches the central city and Hanoi Station.

What makes it distinctive

It is Hanoi's first metro project combining a commercially operating elevated section with a deep underground extension through the historic central area.

What users often miss

A tunnel can be physically bored through while stations and railway systems are still far from commercial opening.

The western half is already carrying passengers; the underground extension to Hanoi Station is still being finished.

System identity

What this infrastructure connects and enables

Core role

Core Function: Provide east–west high-capacity urban rail from Nhon through Cau Giay toward central Hanoi Station.
Network Role: Metro Line 3.1 / pilot urban railway with an operational elevated section and an underground central section under construction.
Economic Role: Supports commuting, reduces road dependence and creates future transfer/TOD opportunities along a major western corridor.
Core Insight: In 2026 the line has two different statuses: Nhon–Cau Giay operates, while the 4 km underground extension to Hanoi Station remains under construction.

Network structure

Total Length: 12.5 km.
Elevated: 8.5 km with 8 elevated stations, operational since 8 August 2024.
Underground: 4 km with 4 underground stations S9–S12 and one emergency shaft, under construction in 2026.
Stations: 12 total in the full project.
Central Terminus: Hanoi Station / S12 area when the underground section is completed.

Development

How the infrastructure developed over time

2009 onward

Project development

The pilot urban railway is developed with international ODA financing and Hanoi counterpart funds.

2010s–2024

Elevated construction and systems

The Nhon–Cau Giay elevated section is completed and tested.

From 8 August 2024

Elevated commercial operation

The 8.5 km elevated section with eight stations enters passenger service.

2024–April 2026

Underground tunneling

Two TBMs excavate the approximately 4 km underground section through four central stations.

2026–2027 target

Underground fit-out and completion

Station civil works, systems, track and integration continue toward the city's target for full-line commercial operation.

2021–2025 programme

Elevated Milestone: The elevated section entered commercial service on 8 August 2024.
Tunneling: TBM work advanced through 2025 and early 2026.
Financing: The project uses ODA from four donors plus Hanoi counterpart funding.
Project Investment: Hanoi reporting in February 2026 gives total investment of VND 34.826 trillion.
Editorial Rule: Never label the full 12.5 km line as fully operational before the underground section is commissioned.

2025 milestone

Elevated: Operational since August 2024.
Underground: Under active construction through 2025 and 2026.
TBM: Both TBMs completed the full underground tunneling journey by April 2026.
Construction Progress: Hanoi reported 79.3% construction progress for the underground section in May 2026.
Interpretation Rule: Tunnel excavation completion does not equal underground passenger opening.

Status guide

How to read operating status

Operational, technically open, under construction, expansion and planned are different states.

OperationalOpen and functioning under normal public operating rules.

Partially operationalOne or more usable sections operate while other sections remain incomplete or under construction.

Under constructionPhysical construction is active and the asset or section is not yet in normal service.

Approved / implementation preparationApproved or assigned for implementation but not yet operating.

PlannedIncluded in a plan but not yet under full construction.

Network anatomy

How the system changes across segments or regions

Nhon–Cau Giay

Operational elevated metro serving western Hanoi.

Context

Residential, education and employment catchments.

Watch for

First/last-mile access and interchange quality.

Kim Ma–Cat Linh

Underground extension through dense central-west districts.

Context

High urban density and future transfer potential.

Watch for

Construction impacts and station completion.

Van Mieu–Hanoi Station

Future central-city underground access.

Context

Historic core, national railway interchange and central employment/tourism.

Watch for

Complex underground construction and urban interfaces.

Design & operations

How design choices shape operation and capacity

Form: Mixed elevated and underground urban railway.
Total Stations: 12: eight elevated and four underground.
Operational Section: Nhon–Cau Giay elevated section.
Underground Works: Twin TBM tunnels completed excavation by April 2026.
Fare Technology: Hanoi's metro system moved to identity/biometric and cashless fare technology in 2026.
Operating Rule: Keep current timetable, fares and temporary service conditions dynamic.

User experience

How people use the infrastructure in practice

Traveler use

Current Use: Passengers can use the operational elevated Nhon–Cau Giay section.
Future Use: Do not route passengers through S9–S12 until the underground section officially opens.
Integration: Door-to-door and feeder-mobility integrations are expanding through Hanoi Metro services.
Last Mile: Walking, buses and shared micromobility shape station catchments.
Dynamic Rule: Use current operator information for service hours and fares.

Driving safety

Construction: Central underground station areas require temporary traffic management and work-zone caution.
Rail Safety: Operational passengers should follow platform and train instructions.
Road Interface: Elevated/underground rail reduces direct rail-road conflicts compared with surface railway.
Emergency: Follow operator and station instructions during disruption.
Rule: Do not enter fenced underground construction areas.

Rest areas

Importance: Metro passenger service does not use motorway-style rest areas.
Station Facilities: Passenger amenities are provided through stations and surrounding urban services.
Data Rule: Keep station-specific temporary amenities and outages dynamic.

Tolling

Principle: This is fare-based public transport, not a road toll facility.
Fare System: Hanoi has introduced identity, biometric and cashless fare technologies across operating metro services.
Traveler Rule: Use current Hanoi Metro fare information.
Data Rule: Do not freeze fare tables in stable canonical data.

Before a long drive

Use only opened stations
Check current service hours
Confirm fare/payment method
Plan first/last mile
Check construction around future underground stations
Allow transfer time
Follow operator alerts

Economic geography

How connections translate into economic value

Freight & logistics

Role: Passenger urban rail, not freight infrastructure.
Indirect Benefit: Can reduce some commuter road demand and improve worker access.
National Rail Link: Future Hanoi Station terminus can improve passenger interchange with national rail.
Rule: Do not assign cargo capacity to the metro.

Interchange economics

Why It Matters: Transfer and station access determine network value.
Good Node: Operational station
Safe pedestrian access
Bus/micromobility feeder
Dense mixed use
Future rail transfer
Poor Node: Unopened station
Long road crossing
Weak feeder access
Planning Insight: Keep current and future catchments separate until each station opens.

Industrial investment

Positive Effects

Worker accessibility
Transit-oriented commercial demand
Future central transfer connectivity

Due Diligence

Operational versus future station status
Walking catchment
Pedestrian access
Bus interchange
Construction impacts
TOD rules

Warning

A future underground station should not be valued as current operating access.

Regional effects

Mobility: Creates reliable mass transit along a major western corridor.
Network Effect: Full value rises when the underground central section and other metro lines connect.
Urban Development: Stations can support TOD and pedestrian-oriented development.
Construction Effect: Underground works impose temporary surface disruption in dense central districts.
Caution: Future accessibility benefits must be discounted until commissioning.

Western Hanoi commuters

Operational rail access from Nhon to Cau Giay.

Central-city passengers

Future underground access when S9–S12 open.

Students and workers

Reliable transit along a dense western corridor.

Transit-oriented districts

Improved accessibility around operational and future stations.

Tourism

Faster access changes destination demand

Benefits: Operational access along western Hanoi
Future central access near major heritage and cultural areas
Potential interchange at Hanoi Station
Risks: Construction disruption until underground completion
Destination Rule: Use only opened stations in current itineraries.

Capacity & resilience

Where performance, resilience and environmental constraints matter

Underground station construction

Complex central-city works can control schedule.

Response

Accelerate fit-out while maintaining safety and quality.

Systems integration

Civil completion alone does not create commercial operation.

Response

Complete track, power, signaling, communications and testing.

Surface disruption

Work sites affect traffic and businesses.

Response

Shrink barriers and restore surfaces as packages advance.

First/last mile

Poor access reduces ridership.

Response

Integrate buses, walking and shared mobility.

Network incompleteness

A single partial line has limited transfer reach.

Response

Complete central extension and broader metro network.

Resilience

Power: Reliable traction and station power are essential.
Flooding: Underground stations and tunnels require strong waterproofing, drainage and flood protection.
Heat: Elevated equipment requires heat-resilient maintenance.
Redundancy: Bus and road services provide alternatives during disruption.
Construction: Underground works require continuous geotechnical and settlement monitoring.

Environment

Benefits: Electric mass transit
Potential reduction in road trips
Support for compact TOD
Construction Impacts: Excavation
Noise and vibration
Traffic disruption
Spoil management
Mitigation: TBM monitoring
Surface restoration
Noise/vibration control
Construction traffic management
System Insight: Long-term environmental gains depend on ridership and integration with the full public-transport network.

Planning & policy

Network Role: Line 3.1 is one of Hanoi's core operating/build-out metro corridors.
2026 Programme: City programmes prioritize operation of Nhon–Hanoi Station and rapid expansion of the wider metro network.
Full Line Target: February 2026 city reporting stated a target for full commercial operation in December 2027.
Integration: Fare and first/last-mile integration are being expanded.
Rule: A target date is not an achieved opening date.

Due diligence

What decision-makers should verify

Decision checklist

Identify nearest station and whether it is open
Measure walking catchment
Review TOD/zoning
Account for construction impacts
Model future transfer value separately
Check feeder services
Do not price future access as current access

Interpretation

Common mistakes when reading the infrastructure

Do not assume

The full Nhon–Hanoi Station line is not yet operational in 2026.
TBM tunneling completion is not commercial opening.
The operational section is Nhon–Cau Giay, not all the way to Hanoi Station.
The metro does not carry freight.
December 2027 is a target, not a completed fact.

History

How the infrastructure reached its current form

2009

Project implementation begins

Hanoi's pilot Line 3 project enters its long implementation period with ODA and counterpart funding.

2024-08-08

Nhon–Cau Giay opens

The 8.5 km elevated section with eight stations enters commercial passenger operation.

2025-02

Second TBM begins its underground drive

TBM 2 starts from S9 toward central Hanoi.

2026-04-13

Full TBM tunneling journey completed

TBM 2 reaches S12, completing excavation through the four underground stations.

2026-05

Underground works continue

Hanoi reports 79.3% construction progress on the underground section.

2027-12 target

Target for full-line commercial operation

City reporting sets December 2027 as the target, subject to completion, testing and commissioning.

Glossary

Useful infrastructure terms

Line 3.1: Hanoi urban railway designation for the Nhon–Hanoi Station project.
TBM: Tunnel Boring Machine used to excavate underground rail tunnels.
Elevated section: Railway carried above ground on viaduct structures.
Underground station: Passenger station built below ground with tunnel connections.
Commissioning: Testing and acceptance process before normal passenger operation.
TOD: Transit-Oriented Development around high-capacity public transport.

Connections

Related infrastructure and places

Cat Linh–Ha Dong MetroHanoi's first operational metro line provides a major public-transport spine west of the centre.

Hanoi National Railway HubHanoi remains the central node of Vietnam's conventional national railway network.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is Nhon–Hanoi Station Metro?

Hanoi Metro Line 3.1, a 12.5 km urban railway combining an elevated western section with an underground central section.

How long is the line?

12.5 km.

How much is elevated?

8.5 km.

How much is underground?

4 km.

How many stations are planned in the full project?

12: eight elevated and four underground.

Which section is operating?

The elevated Nhon–Cau Giay section has operated since 8 August 2024.

Is the underground section open?

No. It remained under construction in 2026.

Did the TBMs finish tunneling?

Yes. The second TBM reached S12 in April 2026, completing the tunnel-boring journey.

Does tunnel completion mean the line can open?

No. Stations, track, power, signaling, safety testing and commissioning must also be completed.

What was underground construction progress in May 2026?

Hanoi reported about 79.3% construction progress.

What is the reported total investment?

Hanoi reported VND 34.826 trillion in February 2026.

When is full commercial operation targeted?

City reporting in February 2026 stated a target of December 2027.

Does it carry freight?

No. It is an urban passenger metro.

How are fares changing?

Hanoi is expanding cashless, identity and biometric fare technologies across operating metro services.

What is the main investor caution?

Separate current accessibility from future value around unopened underground stations.

What is the main editorial rule?

Always state the operational elevated section and under-construction underground section separately.

Sources

Primary references

Hanoi People's Committee Portal

Accelerate construction and restore surface to reduce congestion

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Hanoi People's Committee Portal

TBM journey through four underground stations completed

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Hanoi People's Committee Portal

City leaders inspect operation and underground S12 progress

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Hanoi People's Committee Portal

Prime Minister urges progress on Nhon–Hanoi Station Metro

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