HCMC – HCMC has added five metro lines to the list of projects eligible for a special investment mechanism, creating a legal basis to accelerate metro development.
The HCMC People’s Council has approved a resolution supplementing the list of railway projects attached to National Assembly Resolution 188, which pilots specific and exceptional mechanisms and policies for developing urban railway networks in Hanoi and HCMC, according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The five newly added lines include Metro Line No.1 (Binh Duong New City–Suoi Tien); Line No.2 (Thu Dau Mot City–HCMC); Line No.3 (Vung Tau–Ba Ria–Phu My); the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh line; and an extension of the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro to Dong Nai’s administrative center and Long Thanh International Airport.
All five lines are slated for investment in the medium-term phases of 2026–2030 and 2031–2035. Among them, the extension of the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien line to Long Thanh Airport is planned to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, while the remaining four lines are expected to be financed through public investment or PPP arrangements.
According to the municipal government, the merger of the two former provinces of Binh Duong, Ba Ria–Vung Tau and HCMC has opened up a new development space, necessitating a comprehensive review of planning and a reordering of infrastructure investment priorities, particularly for urban rail transport. The city will prioritize regional rail links along radial and ring corridors, aligned with transit-oriented development (TOD) to support sustainable urban growth.
