CaliToday (09/12/2025): In the modern history of Vietnam’s development, some contributions are loud and visible, while others remain quiet yet foundational. Amidst the profound shifts of the post-Cold War era when Vietnam was grappling with embargoes, energy crises, and widespread scarcity Ukraine emerged as a lifeline.
Timely, practical, and courageous, Ukrainian support was the catalyst for one of the 20th century's engineering marvels in Southeast Asia: The 500kV North-South Circuit 1 Transmission Line.
1. The Dark Days of 1992: A Nation Thirsty for Power
In the early 1990s, Vietnam faced a paradox that threatened to strangle its nascent economy:
The North had a surplus of electricity, thanks to the massive Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant.
The South and Central regions were starving for energy, paralyzing industry and daily life.
The Embargo: The US and Western sanctions were still in full force (lifted only on Feb 3, 1994).
Vietnam was effectively isolated. Access to electrical equipment from Europe, Japan, the US, or South Korea was impossible due to a lack of foreign currency, credit freezing, and political barriers.
Facing this "encirclement," a delegation led by Mr. Dao Van Hung (General Director of Vietnam Electricity Corporation 1992–1995) looked to the former Soviet bloc. They went to Russia and Ukraine. The response they received defined the future of Vietnam's energy sector.
2. Ukraine: The Savior with "Steel" Nerves
While Russia, under Boris Yeltsin, was pivoting toward the West and hesitant to violate embargoes for fear of diplomatic backlash, Ukraine took a different stance.
"We fear no one. If we help, we help to the end."
Seizing the opportunity presented by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine opened its warehouses to Vietnam without hesitation. Through Ukrinterenergo and heavy industry plants in Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, Ukraine provided the backbone of the project:
Structural Steel for the massive pylons.
Conductors and lightning arresters.
Line accessories and operational equipment.
Why was this support critical?
Cost: Ukrainian supplies cost only 40–50% of European or Japanese equivalents.
Speed: Utilizing post-Soviet inventory meant immediate shipping, bypassing years of manufacturing lead time.
Durability: Manufactured to GOST standards (tested in the harsh climates of Crimea and the Caucasus), the equipment was perfectly suited for Vietnam’s tropical conditions.
Credit: Crucially, Ukraine offered short-term export credit, solving Vietnam's crippling lack of hard currency.
3. A Record-Breaking Feat: The 2-Year Miracle
The 500kV North-South Circuit 1 spans 1,487 km, connecting Hoa Binh to Phu Lam (via Da Nang and Pleiku). Construction began in 1992 and the line was energized on May 27, 1994 finishing ahead of schedule.
The total cost was a mere 544 million USD (approx. 548 billion VND at the time), a figure impossibly low by international standards.
This success was driven by the "just-in-time" logistics provided by Ukraine. Construction crews never had to wait for materials. Today, many of those Ukrainian steel pylons and conductors from 1993 are still standing tall, powering the nation a testament to their enduring quality.
4. Beyond Hardware: Transferring Knowledge
Ukraine gave Vietnam more than just steel; they gave Vietnam expertise.
From 1997 to 2004, long after the initial line was finished, Ukraine continued to support Vietnam through the SE Vinitsaelectrotechnologia center. They trained Vietnamese engineers in Live-Line Maintenance the high-level skill of repairing high-voltage lines without cutting power.
Training occurred both in Ukraine and on-site in Vietnam.
It covered 500kV, 220kV, and 110kV grids.
This technology transfer meant Vietnam could maintain grid stability a capability very few developing nations possessed at the time.
5. A Debt of "Ân Tình" (Sentimental Gratitude)
In the collective memory of many, the story of Ukraine’s role in Vietnam's electrification has faded. But the reality remains: Without Ukrainian materials, credit, and training, the legendary 500kV line would not have been completed in record time or at such low cost.
Ukraine did not just sell products; they stood by Vietnam when few others dared. It was a bond forged between nations that understood the pain of war, poverty, and the struggle for sovereignty.
Today, as we look back, the message is clear: The 500kV line is a symbol of Vietnamese will, but it is also a monument to Ukrainian friendship. When Vietnam was weak, isolated, and poor, Ukraine opened its doors and extended a hand.
That is a debt of honor. And it is a debt we must not forget.