HCMC breaks ground on Metro Line 2, adopts advanced European technology

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on Thursday broke ground on the Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh-Tham Luong), a long-delayed urban rail project, as the city steps up efforts to modernize public transport using advanced European technology.

The Ben Thanh-Tham Luong line, with a total investment of more than 55 trillion ($2.09 billion), is positioned as a key northwestern axis of the city’s urban rail network, connecting the central business district with densely populated districts to the northwest.

The starting point is Ben Thanh Station - the central interchange of HCMC’s metro system.

The project is one of the city’s largest and most technically complex transport infrastructure developments, running largely underground through high-density urban areas.

It is also among the first projects to be implemented under special mechanisms introduced by the National Assembly’s Resolution 188/2025, which links transport infrastructure development with transit-oriented urban restructuring.

In its first phase, the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong section will span about 11.3 km, including 9.3 km underground and 2 km elevated. The line will feature 10 underground stations, one elevated station, and a depot. The project will be financed entirely by the city’s budget.

At Ben Thanh Station (in the former District 1), Metro Line 1 connects to the eastern area and Suoi Tien Bus Station, while Metro Line 2 will open a connection axis to Tham Luong (in the former District 12) and in the future will form strategic routes to Can Gio and Long Thanh International Airport (in neighboring Dong Nai province).

Phan Cong Bang, head of the city’s Urban Railway Management Authority (MAUR), said the technology selected for Metro Line 2 meets European standards and is considered advanced, modern and widely applicable.

The approach aims to ensure system-wide compatibility, avoid technology conflicts between metro lines, and create a unified foundation for the future expansion of the network. The project also includes a roadmap for gradual localization during construction, rolling stock investment and operations, he added.

The Ben Thanh-Tham Luong line has a total investment of more than 55 trillion ($2.09 billion), with completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2030.

During implementation, alongside workforce training and technology transfer, Vietnam’s domestic capabilities in urban rail development are expected to improve progressively, city officials said.

Speaking at the ceremony, HCMC Vice Chairman Bui Xuan Cuong said the timing of the groundbreaking was particularly significant, as land clearance has been completed and project funding has been fully secured under the city’s medium-term budget plan for 2026-2030.

He added that the application of special policy mechanisms has helped resolve long-standing bottlenecks related to investment procedures, funding sources, design standards, and contractor selection, paving the way for faster implementation.

Metro Line 2 comprises two sections: Ben Thanh-Tham Luong and Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem. While construction has begun on the former, conglomerate Thaco has proposed investing in the latter to connect with Long Thanh International Airport via an additional urban rail link between Thu Thiem and Long Thanh.

Under the original plan, Metro Line 2 was scheduled to start construction in 2014 and be completed within four years, with an initial budget of VND26.12 trillion ($994 million).

In November 2019, the city revised the timeline to 2018-2026 and raised total investment to nearly VND47.9 trillion, citing delays caused by land clearance issues.

In October 2023, authorities approved a further adjustment, setting the operational launch for the line by the end of 2030, followed by two years for defect rectification and warranty works through 2032.

Following its merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, HCMC has outlined an ambitious urban rail development plan for 2026-2035, targeting the construction of nine metro lines from late 2027 and completion of 355 km of urban rail by 2035, including Metro Line 2, with total investment estimated at $44 billion.