The city government has moved to fast-track the 6-km Ben Thanh–Thu Thiem metro segment, which will form the first stage of the planned rail corridor connecting downtown Ho Chi Minh City to the airport. Municipal Vice Chairman Bui Xuan Cuong has instructed relevant agencies to begin construction before April 20, utilising special policy mechanisms to expedite the project timeline.
The underground section will run from Ben Thanh Station along Ham Nghi Street, pass beneath the Saigon River and continue along Mai Chi Tho Street to Thu Thiem. From there, the line is expected to link with a future railway extending to Long Thanh airport in Dong Nai Province, located around 40 km east of the city.
The push to accelerate the metro project comes as the nearly VND337 trillion (US$12.94 billion) airport prepares to commence commercial operations by mid-2026. The airport recorded its first ceremonial flight on Dec 19, 2025 and is expected to initially serve long-haul routes connecting Vietnam to Europe, North America, India and the Middle East.
At present, access to the airport relies solely on road transport, primarily the heavily congested Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay Expressway and several national highways. With Ho Chi Minh City projected to generate the majority of passenger traffic, officials have identified the development of rail connectivity as a critical priority.
City leaders are targeting completion of key rail links before 2030. In addition to the Ben Thanh–Thu Thiem metro segment, plans are underway for a 42-km Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway line featuring 20 stations. Once completed, the network would establish a continuous rail corridor linking downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh airport.
The Ben Thanh–Thu Thiem segment has been proposed under a public-private partnership by Truong Hai Group, widely known as Thaco. The conglomerate has submitted a preliminary investment proposal valued at approximately VND33 trillion (US$1.26 billion) and was approved in January to conduct a feasibility study, although formal investment approval is still pending.
Thaco is also currently studying the proposed Thu Thiem–Long Thanh railway, estimated to require an investment of around VND84.753 trillion (US$3.24 billion). The company is already serving as the main contractor for the 11.3-km Ben Thanh–Tham Luong section of the city’s Metro Line 2, which broke ground on Jan 15 with a budget of VND55 trillion (US$2.1 billion).
If completed as planned, the combined projects would establish a modern rail network linking Ho Chi Minh City’s two major airports through the city centre by 2030, significantly improving regional connectivity and supporting long-term urban mobility.
