The European Union is providing 10 million EUR for studies and preparations to extend Hanoi Metro Line 3 from Hanoi Station to Hoang Mai. The proposed section, about 11 km long, is planned to run entirely underground alongside transit-oriented development.
On October 19, the Hanoi People’s Committee, together with the French Government, the French Development Agency, the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank, held a ceremony to unveil a commemorative plaque for Metro Line 3 at Cau Giay Station (S8) on the Nhon–Hanoi Station section.
The event recognised cooperation between Hanoi, France and international financial institutions in developing public transport infrastructure and expanding the capital’s urban railway network.
According to the partners, the EU has entrusted the French Development Agency with managing a 10-million-EUR grant for preparations to extend the line from Hanoi Station to Hoang Mai.
The support programme was signed with the Hanoi People’s Committee in 2024. It is being implemented by the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board, with preparatory work expected to finish by the end of 2027. The approximately 11-km extension is planned to run entirely underground in the southern part of the capital.
The grant will fund a feasibility study, transit-oriented development planning along the route, research into traffic organisation and multimodal connectivity, and efforts to strengthen project implementation capacity.
Combining urban railway development with transit-oriented development planning is expected to help reorganise urban space, improve access to public transport and increase the efficiency of transport infrastructure. It will also provide a basis for studying links between residential areas, economic centres, service hubs and high-capacity public transport networks.
According to the funding partners, construction financing for the extension will be explored through the Team Europe mechanism, with the participation of Germany’s KfW Development Bank and cooperation with the Asian Development Bank.
The 10-million-EUR grant is intended specifically for research and project preparation, not for the full construction cost. Construction will depend on the study findings, approval procedures and capital mobilisation plans in accordance with regulations.
Truong Viet Dung, vice chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said the line’s importance goes beyond the transport project. He said each new metro line provides a safe and convenient way to travel while also helping reduce congestion and pollution, reorganise urban space and connect development centres.
The city expressed its appreciation for support from the French Government and international financial institutions, particularly the EU’s 10-million-EUR grant through the French Development Agency for studying the extension from Hanoi Station to Hoang Mai.
Éléonore Caroit, France’s minister delegate for Francophonie, described Metro Line 3 as tangible evidence of cooperation under the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. She also highlighted prospects for further cooperation between France, the EU and Vietnam in public transport, including preparations to extend the line to Hoang Mai.
Victoire Vandeville, the French Development Agency’s regional director for Southeast Asia, said the millions of passenger journeys recorded during the line’s first year showed the effectiveness of cooperation among the partners. The agency reaffirmed its readiness to continue supporting Hanoi in studying and preparing the extension with EU assistance.
Scott Roberts, the Asian Development Bank’s country director for Vietnam, said urban railways do more than meet travel needs. They also connect people with employment, education and development opportunities. The bank pledged to continue working with Hanoi and its partners to develop an integrated and accessible urban transport network for the capital’s development needs.
Metro Line 3 is 12.5 km long and has 12 stations, including eight elevated and four underground stations. The elevated section from Nhon to Cau Giay began commercial operations in August 2024, providing an additional high-capacity public transport option in western Hanoi.
According to Hanoi Metro data included in a statement by the international partners, the elevated section carried about 6.4 million passenger journeys during its first year, with an on-time performance rate of 99%.
International partners have also noted the project’s contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their estimates indicate that the line helped avoid about 49,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2025. The figure is projected to reach around 81,500 tonnes annually by 2030.
Construction of the underground section from Cau Giay to Hanoi Station, which includes four stations, is continuing. According to the implementation schedule in the October 19 statement, the section is expected to be completed and open to passengers in 2027.
Metro Line 3 has received support from several international financial institutions. The French Government provided a 355-million-EUR Treasury loan, the French Development Agency provided a 159-million-EUR loan, the Asian Development Bank provided 407.8 million USD, and the European Investment Bank provided 125.5 million EUR. Hanoi is also providing counterpart funding.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
