Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating preparations for urban railway projects. Three publicly funded metro lines are expected to break ground by the end of 2026 to improve links with major transport hubs and expand the city's development space.
The city plans to build 28 urban railway lines with a combined length of around 1,500 km by 2050. Public transport is expected to meet 55–60% of travel demand by then. The city aims to complete about 255 km of urban railways by 2030 and more than 500 km by 2035.
Tran Quang Lam, director of the municipal Department of Construction, said metro development was essential for a megacity such as Ho Chi Minh City because expanding roads alone could not fundamentally resolve traffic congestion.
Five railway projects are being prepared for groundbreaking by the end of 2026. Two will use the public-private partnership model: the Tham Luong–An Ha section of Metro Line No. 2 and the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh line. The three publicly funded projects are Metro Lines No. 1 and No. 2 in the former Binh Duong area and Phase 1 of Metro Line No. 6, linking Tan Son Nhat Airport with Phu Huu.
For 2026–2030, the city has identified eight priority urban railway projects to strengthen regional connectivity and links with major transport hubs.
The 32.8-km Metro Line No. 1 section from Binh Duong New City to Suoi Tien is estimated to cost 55 trillion VND, or about 2.1 billion USD. The 35-km Metro Line No. 2 section from Thu Dau Mot to Tao Dan, connecting with the Ben Thanh–Tham Luong line, has an estimated investment of 113 trillion VND.
The 22.9-km first phase of Metro Line No. 6 will require more than 86.5 trillion VND. It will connect Tan Son Nhat Airport with Phu Huu station and the planned Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway. The line is expected to ease road congestion and improve access to the city's eastern areas.
Phan Cong Bang, head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, said the three publicly funded projects were scheduled for approval in December 2026 and groundbreaking by the end of the year. Operations are targeted for the 2030s.
The city is also preparing Metro Line No. 3, connecting Vung Tau, Ba Ria and Phu My, and proposing an extension to Long Thanh International Airport. The project is intended to strengthen links between urban railways and key transport hubs across the region.
VietnamPlus reported that prioritising interconnected metro lines could help Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring areas ease road congestion, improve public transport and create new growth opportunities.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
