Vietnam will start building a $67 billion high-speed rail network to connect its northern and southern provinces in 2027, as the government plans large infrastructure projects to support its economic growth ambitions.

The National Assembly on Saturday approved the government’s proposal to build the 1,541-kilometer (958-mile) express railway, which will cross 20 cities and provinces with a designed speed of about 350 kilometers per hour. The project is expected to be completed by 2035, the government said in a statement.