This initiative is part of a broader proposal presented to the municipal People's Council on Tuesday, detailing plans for seven metro lines by 2035, and an additional 155 km by 2045, bringing the total to 510 km.
The expansion is estimated to cost US$40 billion in the first 10-year phase and US$27 billion in the second phase.
The city's first line, Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien, which started construction over a decade ago, will begin operations on Dec. 22, transporting passengers between Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City.
Most future lines are planned to be underground to minimize land compensation costs and speed up construction.
The proposal also recommends 43 special mechanisms to enhance urban planning, funding policies, project approvals, and more, focusing on maximizing public investment supplemented by government budgets, city bonds, and transit-oriented development, which is the creation of compact, walkable, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use communities centered around the metro systems.
The city will also continue to seek private investors for metro projects.
HCMC's original metro plan included eight metro lines and three monorail or tramway lines, totaling 220 km.
Aside from the metro line No.1, work has only started on line No.2, the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong line, which spans 11 km and is currently in the site clearance stage 14 years after approval.
Other planned lines have yet to begin development.