HCMC proposes adding 5 metro lines connecting Long Thanh airport, Binh Duong, Vung Tau

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has proposed adding five metro lines to the appendix of the parliamentary Resolution No. 188 on piloting special mechanisms and policies to develop the urban railway network in Hanoi and HCMC.

This addition is permitted by the Vietnamese legislature to meet the city’s development needs, after it merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces in July to form the new HCMC, as stipulated in Resolution No. 98 (amended).

According to the proposal, the five metro lines include Binh Duong New City-Suoi Tien (Line No. 1); Thu Dau Mot City-HCMC (Line No. 2); Vung Tau-Ba Ria-Phu My (Line No. 3); Thu Thiem-Long Thanh; and the extension of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien line to the administrative center and Long Thanh International Airport of Dong Nai province.

All five lines are planned for implementation during the medium-term phases of 2026-2030 and 2031-2035, and will be invested through public investment or public-private partnership (PPP) models.

Thu Thiem-Long Thanh line

On October 29, 2025, the Prime Minister issued a decision approving adjustments to the railway network plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Accordingly, the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh line is removed from the national railway plan and converted into an urban railway; HCMC and Dong Nai province are assigned to include this line in their master plans and related schemes.

Currently, the two localities are reviewing and updating their respective master plans. The parliament's Resolution No. 260/2025 amending and supplementing Resolution No. 98 also allows the HCMC People’s Committee to approve the city master plan and adjust it concurrently with the preparation, appraisal, and approval of project investment policy and investment decisions.

The route starts from Thu Thiem station, running parallel on the right side of the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway and the North-South high-speed railway. It then turns right, crosses Ring Road 3, and runs parallel on the left side of Ring Road 3, continuing to cross the Dong Nai River at a point about 62.5 meters upstream from the centerline of the Dong Nai Bridge on Ring Road 3 (Phase 1).

After crossing the Dong Nai River, the line continues closely along Ring Road 3 and enters the left median strip of Ring Road 3 in accordance with the planning of Dong Nai province’s former Nhon Trach district. The route then turns left into the median of Provincial Road 25B (as planned), before turning right to separate from Provincial Road 25B and head toward Long Thanh airport.

The line aims to address the urgent need for connectivity between HCMC, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and Long Thanh International Airport using a high-capacity, modern, environmentally-friendly mode of transport, while the road transport network is already overloaded.

Although the line passes through both HCMC and Dong Nai province, the two localities have agreed to assign the HCMC People’s Committee as the competent authority and HCMC is authorized to apply the special mechanisms and policies under Resolution No. 188/2025/QH15.

During implementation, flexible application of the special mechanisms under the Railway Law and Resolution No. 188/2025/QH15 will be adopted to ensure compliance with legal regulations.

Extended Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien line

The extension of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line to HCMC's administrative center and Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province has been identified in Dong Nai province’s approved master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

The route starts from Station S0 at Tan Van (HCMC), follows the planned alignment, crosses the Dong Nai River, and runs along National Highway 1 to connect with Station SC of the new provincial administrative center.

It then follows the planned corridor of the Bien Hoa - Long Thanh railway line along Provincial Road DT.771, crosses the HCMC - Long Thanh Expressway, connects to Station SA, and continues along the planned railway corridor into Long Thanh airport.

The total length of the line is approximately 41.4 kilometers, of which about 1.1 km lies within HCMC.

The project aims to extend the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro line to the provincial administrative center and Long Thanh International Airport, meeting the urgent demand for connectivity between HCMC and Dong Nai province through a modern, environmentally friendly transport mode. It also contributes to maximizing the efficiency of Long Thanh International Airport operations, urban services, tourism, and logistics, thereby promoting socio-economic development in both localities.

The project will enhance transport capacity, reduce congestion on currently overloaded road corridors such as Hanoi Highway and National Highway 51, create new development spaces, accelerate urban development, promote compact urban development under the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) model, redistribute population and labor along the corridor, and improve economic competitiveness, creating momentum for industrial, tourism, and service development.

Line No. 1: Binh Duong New City-Suoi Tien

This line has been identified in the former Binh Duong province’s master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and is included in the list of priority investment projects for the 2025-2030 phase.

The route runs from the central roundabout of Binh Duong New City via Hung Vuong street, My Phuoc - Tan Van expressway, to Long Binh depot.

The objective is to expand the urban railway network by synchronously connecting with Metro Line No. 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien), which has been officially put into operation since December 2024.

The line will connect the two administrative and political centers of HCMC from Binh Duong ward to Saigon ward, using modern, environmentally friendly public transport, increase transport capacity, and reduce traffic load on the My Phuoc – Tan Van road corridor.

It will also create new development spaces, accelerate urban development, promote compact TOD-based urban development, redistribute population and labor along the corridor, and enhance economic competitiveness, driving industrial, tourism, and service development.

Line No. 2: Thu Dau Mot City-Ho Chi Minh City

This line has also been named in the former Binh Duong province’s master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, with an investment roadmap for 2025-2030.

The metro line will run from Thu Dau Mot via Hung Vuong street, Pham Ngoc Thach street, National Highway 13, Vinh Binh Bridge, and connect with HCMC Metro Line No. 3, using the Hiep Binh Phuoc depot.

It aims to expand the urban railway network by connecting Line No. 2 (Thu Dau Mot-HCMC) with Urban Railway Line No. 3 (Hiep Binh Phuoc-An Ha), forming a central radial corridor.

The project will directly connect Thu Dau Mot ward and surrounding areas along the corridor to central HCMC with modern, environmentally-friendly public transport, increase transport capacity, and reduce congestion at the gateway on National Highway 13, which is currently overloaded and frequently congested.

It will also create new development spaces, accelerate urban development, promote compact TOD-based urban development, redistribute population and labor along the corridor, and enhance economic competitiveness, driving industrial, tourism, and service development.

Line No. 3: Vung Tau-Ba Ria-Phu My

This line has been identified in the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau province’s master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and includes options for connection to Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province.

The metro line will run along 3/2 Street-Chi Linh Tourist Area-Vung Tau-Binh Chau Road-Coastal Road-Road 55-National Highway 51.

The aim is to connect Long Thanh International Airport and areas along the route with the center of Vung Tau ward, promote tourism development in coastal areas, and form an economic, tourism, and coastal urban growth axis, creating a safe, clean, high-quality living environment oriented toward harmonious development with nature.

At the same time, the project will contribute to the formation of a national-level logistics center, the establishment of a free trade zone in Cai Mep Ha, attract strategic investors, and develop a comprehensive and integrated ecosystem in line with leading international standards.