On May 7th, 2026, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van held a reception and working session with a delegation of French enterprises visiting Vietnam to attend the France–Vietnam Railway Forum organized by Business France, the trade agency of the French Embassy in Vietnam.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Vietnam, Olivier Brochet and representatives from 15 major French companies and corporations operating in the railway sector; Officials from specialized units related to the railway industry under the MoC attended the working session.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Olivier Brochet thanked Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van for warm welcome. He also stated that the purpose of this working visit was to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s railway infrastructure development orientation as well as future cooperation opportunities.
According to Ambassador Olivier Brochet, France has always supported Vietnam in the development of a modern and low-emission transportation system, including the North–South high-speed railway project and urban railway systems.
Olivier Brochet affirmed that French enterprises wish to have a long-term partnership with Vietnam in building a modern and sustainable railway transport ecosystem for future generations, while also exploring Vietnam's major priorities regarding infrastructure development, investment promotion mechanisms, financial resources, and the potential participation of French businesses in railway projects in Vietnam.
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Overview of working session.
Welcoming Ambassador Olivier Brochet and the business delegation to the Ministry of Construction, Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van emphasized that Vietnam always values and prioritizes promoting cooperative relations with France – the first European Union member state to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam in October 2024.
Van noted that France is among the world’s leading countries in science and technology in the railway sector, particularly in high-speed rail, metro systems, and the operation of modern railway networks.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van briefed the French side on Vietnam’s major orientations for railway infrastructure development. Accordingly, the Railway Network Planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, aims to effectively renovate and upgrade existing railway lines; complete investment preparation and gradually implement new railway lines, with priority given to the North–South high-speed railway, lines connecting international seaports and international airports, and urban railway systems in major cities.
Vietnam also aims to complete the North–South high-speed railway by 2050, while investing in and completing railway lines connecting seaports, industrial parks, economic zones, the Central Highlands region, coastal routes, and international connections.
Vietnam is also focusing on human resource training, technology transfer, and the development of the railway industry in order to gradually master the technologies for maintenance, repair, and operation of electrified railway systems and high-speed railways.
Regarding cooperation with France, Van highly appreciated the cooperation programs carried out in recent years between Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and SNCF International, particularly in human resource training and the sharing of experience in the management and operation of high-speed rail systems.
To date, the two sides have implemented numerous short-term training courses in Vietnam and abroad for railway management officials, while also organizing seminars on railway technology and industrial development.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van stated that in the coming period, Vietnam and France still have considerable potential for cooperation in areas such as workforce training for electrified railway systems, technology transfer, railway industry development, the establishment of technical standards and regulations, as well as the sharing of experience in the management and operation of modern railway infrastructure.
He also affirmed the long-standing cooperative relationship between Vietnam and France as an important foundation for expanding cooperation in the future, and expressed his hope that French enterprises would continue to accompany Vietnam in the development of a modern, integrated, green, and sustainable railway system.