How Vietnamese engineers master construction technology underground in urban areas
Metro line 3 project, section Nhon - Hanoi station, has completed the journey of digging two tunnels about 4 km long, passing through four underground stations in the central area of Hanoi by two TBM tunnel digging machines named "Thanh Toc" - No. 1 and "Dao Bao" - No. 2. TBM machine No. 1 reached the finish line on December 1, 2025, machine No. 2 was completed on April 13, 2026.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Bao, Deputy General Director of Fecon Group - the operator of two TBM tunneling machines, said that the TBM was built specifically for the project by the German company Herrenknecht, is more than 100 meters long and weighs about 850 tons.
At metro project No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, Fecon participated in operating the machine under the guidance of foreign experts. But when it comes to the Nhon - Hanoi station project, Vietnamese engineers have gradually proactively operated, handled situations and managed risks at the construction site. These are also important components of technology.
According to Mr. Bao, for metro projects that are underground systems in active urban areas, geological surveys and subsidence control through monitoring systems are the most important factors. During the tunneling process, changes in ground conditions can affect surrounding structures. These changes are sometimes difficult to detect with the naked eye, but can be early signals of risks that need to be controlled.
Dr. Phung Duc Long, Chairman of the Vietnam Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (VSSMGE), pointed out that one of the common limitations in underground construction is that the arrangement of the monitoring system is not suitable for actual conditions. Meanwhile, the core value of monitoring lies not only in the equipment or the amount of data collected, but also in the ability to analyze, predict and convert data into appropriate construction decisions before risks become actual incidents.
In fact, in many large metro projects around the world, monitoring data helps engineers proactively adjust construction methods as soon as unusual deformation trends appear, instead of waiting until parameters exceed warning thresholds.
According to Mr. Long, as the number of metro projects increases, the requirement is not only to invest in a modern monitoring system for each project, but also to build data analysis capacity, warning processes and a human resources team capable of identifying and handling complex situations.
He also noted that with modern underground works, the biggest weakness is often not in the number of sensors, but in people and the measurement data processing process.
"In large projects, it is easy to have a situation of 'rich in data but poor in understanding'," he said, adding that when Vietnam simultaneously deploys many metro lines, the role of domestic businesses with real-life experience becomes even more important. A team of well-trained engineers, knowledgeable about local geological conditions and accumulated experience from real projects will be the foundation to receive and effectively apply international technology, gradually master techniques and improve risk control capacity in construction.
Metro Line 3 Hanoi project is a typical example. According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Bao, during the tunnel construction process using TBM machines, the monitoring system is used to monitor ground fluctuations and neighboring structures, combined with monitoring excavator operating parameters. Based on analysis of actual data in each area, the technical team coordinated with the general contractor and experts to review and adjust operating parameters and construction plans in accordance with geological conditions, to control impacts on the surrounding area.
This approach not only contributes to ensuring the safety of existing works and urban infrastructure, but also helps optimize technical solutions, control construction progress and costs. These are also important practical experiences for Vietnamese businesses and engineers to accumulate capacity and gradually master underground construction technology.
According to the Hanoi Capital Master Plan with a 100-year vision, Hanoi will develop an urban railway network with a scale of nearly 1,000 km. Ho Chi Minh City also sets a goal of developing about 355 km by 2035.
According to Mr. Bao, Vietnamese engineers can currently master the technology of operating tunnel boring machines, assembling tunnel shells and controlling geometry, ground treatment and underground station construction. However, improving capacity and updating new technology is necessary, especially in the context that Vietnam is promoting metro construction.
At the end of November this year, at the International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering for Sustainable Infrastructure Development - GEOTEC HANOI 2026, more than 1,000 international experts came to Vietnam to discuss geotechnical monitoring, technology and experience in controlling risks in infrastructure construction. Along with that, the topics of tunnel works and underground spaces, artificial intelligence applications in geotechnical engineering will expand the discussion on the ability to combine monitoring data with numerical models and modern analysis tools. According to Mr. Bao, this is an opportunity to combine the experience of international experts and the practical capabilities of a team of Vietnamese engineers and businesses, who directly deploy, accumulate experience and improve the ability to handle complex situations at the construction site.
Nam Nguyen