Balancing growth and sustainability: Ha Noi’s double challenge in transport reform
VGP - As Ha Noi moves toward becoming a multi-centered, high-performance metropolis, the capital city is faced with a dual challenge: easing chronic traffic congestion while developing a modern, green, and intelligent transport system — a crucial foundation for sustainable urban growth.
Strategic turning point
"Ha Noi is standing at a historic turning point in its urban development," said Le Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Finance.
"The city must simultaneously enhance its connectivity and restructure itself to meet the demands of a multi-centered, high-capacity capital," he added.
To this end, Ha Noi is implementing a comprehensive transportation development strategy — one that integrates mega infrastructure projects such as the North–South high-speed railway, the urban railway network, and the Red River landscape boulevard.
"These projects reflect the city's long-term strategic vision and determination to build a modern, high-capacity transportation backbone as the foundation for sustainable growth," Le emphasized.
Three pillars of connectivity
Ha Noi's transport development strategy is anchored in three key priorities: (1) Strengthening inter-regional connectivity; (2) Improving internal urban connectivity, and (3) Accelerating the green transport transition.
Among the most significant projects is the North–South high-speed railway, which will serve as a catalyst for economic, social, and technological progress nationwide — with Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City as its main beneficiaries.
To support the project, the capital is developing the Ngoc Hoi Station Complex, integrating high-speed and urban railways with road transport. This will form a strategic hub for commerce, services, and logistics in southern Ha Noi.
The city is also pushing forward key regional road projects such as Belt Road No. 4 – Capital Region and the Gia Binh Airport–Ha Noi road, both crucial for strengthening connectivity with surrounding provinces.
Within the city, the Comprehensive Urban Railway Development Plan and the Traffic Congestion Reduction Plan are being implemented in parallel to transform the transport system in both scale and quality.
Urban railways: the core of transformation
Public transport currently accounts for only 17–18 percent of passenger traffic in Ha Noi — mainly buses. The city aims to increase this share to 45–50 percent by 2035, primarily through the expansion of the urban railway system.
However, as Le noted, infrastructure alone cannot solve congestion. "Investing in urban railways is only one part of the overall strategy. We need synchronized measures involving traffic management, vehicle control, connectivity, and modern technology."
The Cat Linh – Ha Dong line, Ha Noi's first metro route, revealed weaknesses in multimodal connectivity. Despite high passenger density, the lack of dedicated bus lanes, bicycle and motorbike parking, and safe pedestrian access limits its effectiveness.
To unlock the system's full potential, the city plans to develop dense feeder bus networks, safe shaded walking paths, and public bicycle lanes within 500 meters of each station. Integrating shared electric vehicles and mini electric cars at transit points will further enhance accessibility and convenience.
Smart traffic management for a smart capital
Beyond physical infrastructure, Ha Noi is prioritizing intelligent transport systems (ITS) and big data to modernize traffic management.
"Operating such a complex network requires a shift from static management to real-time, data-driven control," Le said. "Technology integration will enable the city to monitor and manage roads and railways efficiently."
Although Ha Noi already operates a traffic management center, data integration remains fragmented. Many major intersections still rely on outdated, fixed-timing signal systems — reducing traffic flow efficiency by up to 20 percent.
The next step is to build a smart urban traffic control center capable of integrating multi-source data and using AI-based predictive algorithms for real-time optimization. This would boost traffic efficiency, reduce congestion, and lay the groundwork for electronic toll collection (ETC) and congestion pricing in the downtown area.
While technical measures are vital, Le stressed that policy tools are the key to lasting change. "Controlling personal vehicles requires firm but transparent mechanisms. Infrastructure solutions are only temporary without effective policies to manage travel demand."
In the short term, completing Ring Road No. 4 and launching Ring Road No. 5 will help redistribute inter-regional traffic and ease pressure on the inner-city network.
In the long term, Ha Noi's plan to restrict motorbikes in the downtown area after 2030 and apply vehicle entry tolls will only be feasible when public transport accounts for at least 30–35 percent of total travel demand — supported by the first operational metro lines.
The success of the urban railway system will determine the efficiency of public investment, the effectiveness of congestion solutions, and the quality of life for millions of residents.
"A modern, high-capacity transport system will not only ease traffic," Le concluded, "but also reshape urban space, improve the environment, and enhance productivity — advancing Ha Noi's position as a leading regional capital"./.
