On 13 April 2026, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) named ‘Tao Bao’ completed its final breakthrough at Station S12 of the Hanoi Metro Line 3 Pilot Light Project in Vietnam. Designed and produced by German manufacturer Herrenknecht, the 6.60 m-diameter earth pressure balance (EPB) TBM is about 100 m long and weighs approximately 800 t. 

Known as the Van Mieu Line, Line 3 is set to be the busiest, with a length of 12.5 km – of which 8.5 km are on elevated tracks and 4 km underground. It will have a capacity of up to 200,000 passengers per day.

Italian contractor Ghella is involved in the excavation of the underground section, which includes 2.6 km of twin-bore tunnels excavated in parallel using two EPB TBMs, as well as the construction of four stations: Kim Ma, Cat Linh, Van Mieu and Hanoi.

Hanoi Metro’s Pilot Light Line 3 is part of a major project financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aimed at fostering Vietnam’s economic growth and easing traffic congestion in the country’s capital, shared Ghella. The new integrated public transport system will comprise a dense network of metro lines, both above and below ground, extending approximately 400 km. This ambitious project is scheduled for completion by 2050.

Ghella further mentioned that, in addition to alleviating urban traffic congestion, the new metro system will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality, benefitting public health and community safety. At the same time, it will enable the sharing of technology and technical skills during construction, thanks to the involvement of a local workforce in the project team.

All images: Ghella