Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – Long Thanh International Airport, located in Dong Nai province, is expected to commence commercial operations in 2026, at which time the demand for transportation connections between Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh Airport will surge. To address this, Ho Chi Minh City plans to construct a passenger metro network connecting the two airports by linking multiple urban rail transit (metro) lines. Currently, related planning and implementation work is proceeding smoothly.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction revealed that the city is compiling a list of key projects for 2026-2030 and 2035, prioritizing projects with connectivity functions and the potential to expand urban development space. The core objective is to complete three key lines connecting Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the city center, and Long Thanh Airport by 2030: the Tham Luong-Penang section of Metro Line 2, the Penang-Thu Thiem section, and the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway line.
Regarding specific line progress, the Penang-Tham Luong metro project has released an implementation plan, requiring relevant departments and investors to expedite approval and adjustment procedures to ensure construction commences before January 19, 2026. The Municipal Finance Department proposed investment plans for the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway and the Penang-Thu Thiem line, suggesting a public-private partnership (including BT contracts) model. They also recommended including the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh line in the project list of Resolution 188/2025/QH15. This resolution allows Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to develop urban rail transit using specific mechanisms, with both projects aiming for early commencement and completion by 2030.
The Construction Department acknowledged several challenges to project progress: First, fundamental issues such as land acquisition and resettlement, financing capabilities, technology transfer, and railway industry development; second, the lines pass through densely populated areas and city centers, significantly impacting existing buildings, with underground lines presenting high technical requirements and large investment scales, potentially delaying progress if legal and financial mechanisms are insufficient; third, the "Transit-Oriented Development" (TOD) model requires close coordination among multiple departments and investors to ensure simultaneous development of urban spaces along the line, and this model is still new in the region, requiring pilot implementation drawing on international experience.
To expedite progress, Ho Chi Minh City is employing a multi-pronged approach: firstly, maximizing the use of Resolution 188/2025/QH15 and specific mechanisms under the Railway Law to shorten preliminary preparation time; secondly, advancing the review and adjustment of TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) area plans (station perimeters, depots, etc.), with a focus on key lines such as the Ben Thanh-Tien Thuan and Ben Thanh-Tham Luong lines. Simultaneously, the city is refining its rail transit investment and financing schemes, conducting railway sector personnel training, verifying land resource usage, and compiling a list of land intended for public-private partnership (PPP) project consideration payments, which is being submitted to the City People's Council for review and approval.
The Department of Construction stated that these measures will significantly shorten project implementation cycles, ensuring timely and high-quality completion of each line, contributing to the construction of a modern public transportation system that efficiently connects the city with surrounding areas, and meeting the growing travel demands.
It is worth noting that in October this year, the Ho Chi Minh City Government submitted a proposal for connecting the two major airports to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, recommending the priority development of Metro Line 2 (Penang-Tham Luong and Penang-Thu Thiem) and the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway, citing their advantage of early implementation. It also suggested continued investment in Metro Line 6 as a supplementary connection. On October 29, the Prime Minister approved adjustments to the "Railway Network Plan 2021-2030, Vision to 2050," explicitly removing the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway from the national railway plan and converting it to urban rail transit, to be updated and incorporated into the respective provincial and related plans of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province. (End)
