Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 2 to break ground in December 2025
Ho Chi Minh City will begin construction of metro line No. 2 in December 2025 as part of a plan to develop seven metro lines spanning a total of 355 kilometers over the next decade, according to an announcement by the municipal administration on Wednesday.
This plan is based on Resolution No. 188 passed by the legislative National Assembly in February, which introduces special mechanisms and policies to accelerate the development of urban railway networks in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Accordingly, the city aims to complete the necessary procedures to transition funding from official development assistance to public investment by April 2025, paving the way for the bidding process and groundbreaking of metro line No. 2 in December this year.
With a total investment of approximately VND47 trillion (US$1.83 billion), the city’s second metro system is designed to span 11.3 kilometers, including 9.3 kilometers of underground railway and two kilometers of elevated track.
Spanning from Ben Thanh Station in District 1 to Tham Luong Station in District 12, the line will have a total of 11 stations, 10 of which will be underground while one will be elevated.
Following the commercial operations of the city’s first metro line in December 2024, metro line No. 2 is among the seven additional metro routes planned for construction between now and 2035.
For the remaining six lines, the city plans to expedite procedures to select contractors and commence construction in 2027.
Site clearance for these projects is scheduled to last from 2025 to 2027.
The comprehensive plan to build 355 kilometers of metro lines over ten years requires an estimated investment of approximately $40.2 billion.
Resolution 188 provides mechanisms to mobilize various funding sources, including central and local government budgets, revenue from transit-oriented development (TOD), and bond issuance.
To ensure the plan’s success, the city has outlined seven key tasks: developing relevant legal documents; mobilizing and allocating investment capital; preparing and implementing projects; promoting urban development based on the TOD model; advancing industrial development, technology transfer, and workforce training; managing construction materials and waste disposal; and addressing other related tasks.
A total of 74 specific tasks have been identified, each with clear timelines and assigned responsibilities for relevant departments and units.
The city’s administration emphasizes that all project participants must recognize this as a critical political mission, requiring focused time, intellect, and resources.
Each unit is expected to proactively collaborate with a high sense of responsibility to contribute to the city’s development.
Accordingly, specialized agencies, investors, and localities where the metro projects pass through are responsible for organizing and staffing appropriately to implement the plan.
Additionally, the municipal Department of Transport will develop a training program for officials and public servants to support the development of the urban railway network from 2025 to 2030, with a vision extending to 2050.
Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation is tasked with formulating a plan to develop the railway industry, focusing on attracting investment in rolling stock and restructuring to establish a unified, modern, and efficient management and maintenance model for infrastructure.
With the mechanisms provided by Resolution 188, along with developing metro lines, the city will simultaneously plan, renovate, and develop urban areas following the TOD model around the stations. These tasks will be carried out concurrently and cohesively.
From 2026 to 2030, relevant departments and localities will review and adjust plans to implement land exploitation based on the TOD model.
After completing site clearance and resettlement, land auctions will be organized to attract investment and urban development as per regulations.
It is projected that revenue from TOD development will reach $7.79 billion, contributing 19.3 percent of the capital needed to construct the 355 kilometers of metro lines.
By Vinh Tho & Duc Phu -Tuoi Tre News – March 27, 2025