Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating preparations for three new metro lines with a combined length of nearly 90km. Their preliminary total investment exceeds 254 trillion VND (9.8 billion USD), according to the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR).
The projects include a nearly 31km line linking the former Binh Duong area with Suoi Tien, a 33.2km route connecting Thu Dau Mot with Tao Dan, and the first phase of Metro Line No. 6 between Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Phu Huu. They are targeted for completion by 2030. The lines are intended to improve regional connectivity, ease traffic congestion and support key industrial and urban areas.
Construction of Metro Line No. 2, linking Ben Thanh with Tham Luong, is also gathering pace. Work is underway at several underground stations, with more sites scheduled to begin construction towards the end of the year. The project aims to complete its main structures in March 2029 and begin commercial operations before 2030.
Two other major projects are approaching important milestones: Long Thanh International Airport and a pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River. More than 80% of Long Thanh airport's total workload has been completed. The 1-trillion-VND pedestrian bridge connecting Bach Dang Wharf Park with Thu Thiem Riverside Park has reached a key construction milestone. The bridge is expected to improve pedestrian links between the city's historic centre and the emerging Thu Thiem financial hub, while supporting tourism, trade and services.
Infrastructure investment to support economic growth
Ho Chi Minh City needs fourth-quarter gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of more than 13.23% to meet its full-year target of 10.02%.
Dr. Pham Viet Thuan, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Environment and Resources Economics, said faster public investment could generate broad economic spillover effects. Major construction projects will stimulate demand for building materials, machinery, transport, fuel and logistics services, create jobs, and support household incomes and consumption.
Improved transport infrastructure could also attract private investment in housing, offices and logistics facilities. Faster goods movement and lower logistics costs could strengthen export competitiveness, while better connectivity would support retail, tourism and other services during the year-end peak season.
Dr. Huynh Thanh Dien of Nguyen Tat Thanh University stressed that effective implementation is essential to translating infrastructure investment into immediate growth. He called for the removal of obstacles to payment and settlement procedures, faster disbursement of public investment funds, and better access to low-interest financing for small and medium-sized enterprises participating in major projects.
In the longer term, metro lines, Long Thanh International Airport and major bridges could reshape Ho Chi Minh City's urban structure and economy. Expanded metro networks could encourage a shift towards public transport and transit-oriented development, with residential, commercial and service hubs emerging around stations. The combined connectivity of Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat airports could strengthen the city's role as a regional aviation, financial and logistics centre.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
