Imagine sipping coffee in a Hanoi high-rise as a metro train glides past your window – a daily reality for residents along the Cat Linh-Ha Dong elevated railway. This engineering marvel, built by the China Railway Sixth Group, has transformed urban mobility in Vietnam's capital since its 2021 inauguration.
The 13-kilometer line snakes through three districts with 12 stations, its tracks threading through buildings in an innovative solution to Hanoi's rapid urbanization. Commuters save nearly an hour compared to road travel, with over 34 million passenger journeys recorded by March 2025.
Beyond practical transportation, the project has become cultural infrastructure. Young couples pose for wedding photos against its modern stations, while urban planners study its success in decongesting Hanoi's western corridors. As APEC members continue infrastructure partnerships, this railway stands as a testament to cross-border technical cooperation.
"What began as traffic relief has become part of our city's identity," says local business owner Nguyen Thi Lan, whose shop overlooks the elevated tracks. The project's operational success has sparked discussions about expanding metro networks across Southeast Asia's growing cities.
