A country with 120km HSR line in construction, and 49km HSR line in planning. That's really ambitious!
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$60bn is equivalent to the total external debt of Vietnam, or even 30% bigger than the portion of the external debt with VN government guarantee.
Unless VN government could show
sufficient convincing reasons to the creditor, I see no chances for creditor to lend $60bn to Vietnam, or even just half of the amount ($30bn). The sufficient convincing reasons, according to my opinion, should include at least the following:
- the project could be completed in time, i.e. no delay in feasibility study, new technology R&D (350kmh train, tropical conditions, etc.), land clearance, and construction
- the project cost could be controlled within the initial limitation
- Sufficient passenger traffic volume after the HSR starts operation, so the HSR line could be profitable.
FYI, the following table shows the current external debt statistics of Vietnam (in million USD).
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