New rail route cuts China to Vietnam freight time from 15 to 7 days
Faster transit times, round-the-clock train operations, and the growth of two-way freight services are expanding logistics possibilities, while building rail transport corridors linking China, Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.
Vietnam's railway sector has launched a new international intermodal container rail service connecting Qinghai in China to Dong Nai in Vietnam. This 4,000 km route, with 2,200 km crossing China and 1,700 km in Vietnam, drastically reduces freight travel time from 12-15 days to about seven days, including customs clearance. The service, which reached 1.15 million tonnes in freight volume in 2024, up 43% year-on-year, and exceeded 1.4 million tonnes in 2025 up 23%, is a result of Vietnam's policy to bring border-gate functions deeper into the country's hinterland.
This approach allows trains from Chinese locations like Qinghai, Nanning, and Suzhou to run directly into Vietnam's interior, bypassing border hubs for more efficient cargo transportation. To ensure stable cargo flows in both directions, Vietnam's railway sector is working on developing two-way services. The success of such routes depends on establishing stable cargo sources and efficient operations.
To realize further potential, several major infrastructure projects are underway, including the 360km Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway and Hanoi-Dong Dang, Hai Phong-Ha Long-Mong Cai railway projects. These projects aim to link Vietnam's railway network with China and create a trans-ASEAN rail transport corridor. Vietnam's railway master plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, also prioritizes connections with ASEAN networks via Laos and Cambodia, further enhancing the country's transport network.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
