Vingroup, the conglomerate controlled by billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, has signed a deal for 200 driverless metro trains from French rail giant Alstom. Alstom will build the first 83 trainsets in France and then transfer technology and key components so Vingroup can assemble the remaining 117 in Vietnam, according to the Vietnamese conglomerate.

Each train will be made up of five aluminium‑alloy cars. The lightweight design is intended to lower axle loads, cut energy consumption and reduce wear on the tracks.

The trains will run at GoA4, the highest grade of automation, which means they can operate without any onboard drivers.

Vingroup is developing five metro lines in Hanoi that together stretch 303.5 kilometres, linking the city centre with Noi Bai International Airport, the Hoa Lac technology hub and the outer district of Dong Anh.

Alstom has been active in Vietnam for more than three decades. Its earlier projects include signalling systems for the Hanoi‑Vinh railway and the supply of ten trains for Hanoi Metro Line 3. This long‑standing presence makes the new technology‑transfer deal a potential turning point for the country’s rail sector.

By combining French expertise with local assembly, Vietnam could not only run driverless metros but also build a home‑grown rail‑manufacturing industry.