Like other big cities in Asia, Ha Noi began to operate the tram system in the early 1900s. A few years later, due to its cheap fares and convenience, this system rapidly became one of the most popular means of transport. There were five tram routes with Hoan Kiem Lake as a central station for residents to get around the city and to the suburban areas. However, because of the population boom and the urgent demand for upgrading the more modern road system, the rail tracks were gradually removed and completely disappeared in 1990. In the minds of Hanoians, the simple but symbolic trams, with their clanging sounds and “Xam” songs (northern Vietnamese traditional music) performed directly in the trams have been seen as the reminders of the city’s serene charm several decades ago.
These days, the fact that that the population of the capital has risen tremendously results in a dramatic increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. To meet the increasing travel demands and reduce troublesome traffic congestion, the first 13-kilometre skytrain system, connecting Cat Linh and Ha Dong is launched and it is expected to be completed by 2018. Each four-compartment skytrain with the length of approximately 80 metres and the height of about 3.8 metres has a capacity of 1,362 passengers. Additionally, a new rail system including over eight kilometres of skytrain rail and four kilometres of subway rail, which links Ha Noi Central Station to Nhon, also has being built recently. The capacity of each skytrain in this efficient high-speed rail system is roughly 1,200 passengers.
