Challenges loom in connecting southern Vietnam hub HCMC to mega-airport Long Thanh

The need of establishing optimal connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thanh International Airport in the neighboring province of Dong Nai has become increasingly urgent. While rail projects have yet to take shape, road travel from the city's center to the planned mega-airport remains time-consuming.

According to HCMC’s Department of Construction, the city has been working closely with neighbouring localities, particularly Dong Nai, to roll out a series of coordinated measures aimed at accelerating investment in key transport infrastructure projects. These efforts are intended to ensure a modern and efficient connectivity network to support the effective operation of Long Thanh airport, a nationally significant project.

On the road front, six projects are currently being implemented to serve airport connectivity. These include the Ring Road 4 project, spanning 206 km with four lanes, under the authority of HCMC, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh provinces. The project is scheduled to break ground in June 2026 and be completed in 2028.

The Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, overseen by the Ministry of Construction, HCMC and Dong Nai, is targeted for completion by December 2025. The Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway, developed by Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), is expected to be completed by September 2026.

VEC is also the investor in the expansion of the HCMC-Long Thanh Expressway, which is slated for basic completion in 2026, except for the Long Thanh Bridge, scheduled for completion in Q1/2027.

Another key project is Ring Road 3, jointly managed by HCMC, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh provinces. This year, 30.5 km of the route is expected to be technically opened to traffic, with the remaining 39.5 km scheduled for technical opening by April 30, 2026, and full completion by June 30, 2026.

Meanwhile, the expansion of provincial Road TL25C, under the authority of Dong Nai province, has seen 7.6 km completed, with around 6.4 km currently under construction and targeted for completion in 2025. A further 2.65 km has yet to be implemented due to land clearance issues.

In the rail sector, the municipal construction department said the construction ministry is preparing investment for the North-South high-speed railway, which is expected to start construction by the end of 2026 and be completed by 2035, along with the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau railway.

For its part, HCMC has assigned Becamex Corporation to study investment in a combined freight and passenger railway linking Bau Bang to Cai Mep. The project aims to break ground in 2027 and be completed before 2035, serving industrial development, logistics, and seaports across the region.

For urban rail, three corridors have been identified to connect HCMC with Long Thanh airport.

The first involves Metro Line No. 2 (Ben Thanh-Tham Luong; Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem) linked to the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh line. The Ben Thanh-Tham Luong section is being developed with public investment funds, with construction planned to start before the 14th Party Congress (scheduled for January 19-25, 2026) and completion targeted for 2030.

The Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem section and the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh line are being proposed by Truong Hai Group under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with construction targeted to begin in 2026 and completion in 2030.

The second corridor centers on Metro Line No. 6, which HCMC plans to develop using public investment, prioritizing an early start on the Tan Son Nhat-Phu Huu section to connect with the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh line. Construction is targeted for 2026, with completion in 2030.

The third corridor would link Metro Line No. 6 with Metro Line No. 1 (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien), extending Line No. 1 to Dong Nai province’s new administrative center and Long Thanh airport.

Under this plan, HCMC will oversee the development of Metro Line No. 6, while Dong Nai province will be responsible for the extension of Metro Line No. 1. Completion is targeted for 2030.

Three major hurdles

Despite the ambitious plans, the construction department identified several key challenges, including land clearance, mobilizing financial resources, and issues related to technology transfer and the development of a domestic railway industry.

Many of the rail routes pass through densely populated and central areas, posing significant impacts on existing structures such as high-rise buildings and technical infrastructure. For underground metro lines, technical complexity and high investment costs could delay progress if legal procedures and funding mechanisms are not synchronized.

In addition, implementing transit-oriented development (TOD) in HCMC will require close coordination among urban management, transport and financial authorities, as well as investors, to ensure integrated development of urban areas along metro corridors while improving public transport usage.

As this is a relatively new model, the city lacks extensive implementation experience and must both pilot projects and draw on international best practices.

To accelerate progress, HCMC is focusing on several key measures.

First, it plans to maximize the use of special mechanisms provided under the parliament Resolution 188 on piloting special mechanisms for developing urban railway systems (metro) in Hanoi and HCMC and the Railway Law to shorten investment preparation and project implementation procedures.

Second, the city will review and adjust urban development planning around metro stations and depots in line with TOD principles, particularly for Metro Line No. 1 (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien) and Metro Line No. 2 (Ben Thanh-Tham Luong). It also aims to complete a capital mobilization plan for the urban rail network.

Third, the city will issue plans and roadmaps for developing the railway industry, alongside training programs to build the necessary human resources.

Fourth, authorities will review land funds and submit to the city council a list of land parcels to be used as counterpart funding for railway projects developed under PPP arrangements using build-transfer (BT) contracts.

Finally, HCMC will develop resettlement plans aligned with investment schedules to support land clearance for railway projects.

“With these solutions, Ho Chi Minh City believes it can significantly shorten implementation timelines, ensure progress and quality, and establish a modern public transport system that is effectively connected with the city and neighboring regions, meeting the growing travel demand of residents,” the construction department said.