HCMC – The People’s Council of HCMC has approved a resolution to extend Metro Line No. 1, also known as Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien, to neighboring Dong Nai Province’s administrative center and Long Thanh International Airport under a public-private partnership.
Dong Nai will act as the executing agency of the project. The extension will run about 41.4 kilometers and be divided into three sections.
The first section, around 6.1 kilometers, will stretch from Suoi Tien Station to the Dong Nai provincial administrative center. About 1.1 kilometers of this section will pass through HCMC.
The second section, 28.2 kilometers long, will connect the administrative center to Station SA, which is planned to link with the future Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway.
The third section, about 7.1 kilometers, will be a branch line leading to Long Thanh International Airport. It is planned to run parallel to the proposed Thu Thiem–Long Thanh metro line and the North–South high-speed railway.
The line is designed for a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, or 90 kilometers per hour in tunnels. Expected operating speeds are 110 kilometers per hour and 80 kilometers per hour in tunnels.
Total investment is estimated at more than VND60.26 trillion. Of this, around VND55.94 trillion will be implemented under a PPP contract in the form of build-transfer. Compensation, support and resettlement costs are estimated at over VND4.32 trillion.
Site clearance costs are projected at about VND3.41 trillion in Dong Nai and VND915 billion in HCMC.
The project is scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2029. According to the HCMC People’s Committee, transport links between HCMC and Dong Nai currently rely mainly on roads. National Highways 1 and 51 are frequently congested.
Long Thanh International Airport is expected to begin operations in mid-2026, a development authorities anticipate will increase demand for interprovincial commuting.
The extension is intended to diversify transport modes, reduce pressure on road infrastructure, and shorten travel time between central HCMC, Dong Nai and Long Thanh airport. It is also expected to strengthen regional connectivity in the southeastern region and support the development of the public transport network in line with planning.
