Nearly 90km of new railway track
Ho Chi Minh City is finalizing procedures to begin construction on three more urban railway lines by the end of 2026: Metro Line 1 (Binh Duong New City - Suoi Tien section), Metro Line 2 (Thu Dau Mot City - Ho Chi Minh City section), and Metro Line 6 Phase 1 (Tan Son Nhat - Phu Huu section).
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, the three projects have a total length of approximately 89.5km and a preliminary total capital of about 254,530 billion VND, expected to be funded by the state budget. These are three of the eight metro projects prioritized by the city for implementation during the 2026-2030 period.
According to an update on October 2nd, Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, stated that the city is finalizing procedures to submit for approval and commence construction on three lines by the end of this year. Along with ongoing projects, Ho Chi Minh City aims to complete approximately 255km of urban railway by 2030.
This figure shows that the metro system is being placed within a larger strategy, rather than simply addressing transportation issues. Resolution 09-NQ/TW sets a target for Ho Chi Minh City to complete approximately 200km of urban railway by 2030; the city is currently aiming for a network scale exceeding this target.
Metro brings urbanization.
A notable aspect of Ho Chi Minh City's metro development plan is that the urban railway is being implemented simultaneously with the Transport-Oriented Development (TOD) model. In this model, train stations are not just places for passengers to board and disembark, but become the nucleus for reorganizing the surrounding urban space.
One specific step recently approved by Ho Chi Minh City is the regulation on planning for TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) areas. Accordingly, the planning scope can extend up to 1,000m from the center of the station or depot; the combined land use coefficient for some mixed-use, commercial-service, and residential areas can be increased by a maximum of 1.5 times compared to the standard, but must be consistent with the capacity of technical and social infrastructure. The resolution takes effect from October 1, 2026.
This approach opens up the possibility of forming urban areas with higher economic activity density around transportation hubs. Residents can access housing, offices, commerce, services, and public spaces within convenient distance, while reducing reliance on private vehicles.
According to Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Ho Chi Minh City has identified eight metro projects as priorities for implementation during the 2026-2030 period. The preparation of multiple parallel lines shows that the city is moving towards a comprehensive network rather than developing individual lines.
This is also a key difference between investing in a single transport line and building an urban rail system. When lines connect, the value of each station lies not only in its transport capacity but also in its ability to create centers of population, employment, and services.
Formation of new economic poles
When the metro network is deployed comprehensively, the greater impact lies not in the number of kilometers of track but in the potential for the formation of new urban centers around the stations. Areas previously heavily reliant on road transport can be reorganized spatially to concentrate population, commerce, services, and employment around public transport hubs.
The three routes scheduled for construction are of significant importance in expanding connectivity between the center of Ho Chi Minh City and other important urban, industrial, and transportation hub areas. Specifically, the Tan Son Nhat - Phu Huu route creates additional links between the airport area and the East; the routes connecting to the former Binh Duong province expand transportation space between Ho Chi Minh City and the urban and industrial areas in the North.
According to Ho Chi Minh City's metro development guidelines, the urban railway is also considered one of the pillars for organizing a multi-polar urban model, reducing dependence on private vehicles and effectively utilizing land around stations.
However, the metro system alone cannot create an "economic hub" without urban planning and mechanisms for exploiting the added value from the infrastructure. Stations must be located within an ecosystem that includes public spaces, housing, commerce, services, and connections with other modes of transport.
Therefore, the nearly 90km of metro lines currently under development can be seen as the initial framework of a new development structure. The ultimate value is not only measured by the number of kilometers of track or the number of passengers, but also by its ability to transform transportation infrastructure into urban spaces, commercial and service areas, and new growth poles for Ho Chi Minh City.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-minh-do-thi/hon-90km-metro-tphcm-chuan-bi-khoi-cong-mot-truc-kinh-te-moi-dang-hinh-thanh-271069.html
