I have lived in Ha Long Bay for 10 years. Faced with these changes, including the construction of a high-speed railway and the development of an $18 billion new city, I write honestly about what is getting better and what is disappearing.
A $18 billion city is being built in the waters off my coast. Vinhome Global Gate Ha Long—a resident of 10 years writes honestly about what this project, which is overwhelming just by the numbers, means for Ha Long Bay.
The journey from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay currently takes 3 hours, but by 2028, it will take only 23 minutes. We have summarized actual comparisons of transportation methods and how high-speed rail is changing travel patterns.
On April 12, 2026, construction of VinSpeed began. 23 minutes from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. A guide who has lived there for 10 years recorded the significance of this change.