HCMC to have metro line from downtown to coastal district Can Gio

HCMC's master plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050, which has recently been approved by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, includes this "potential" metro line, which is expected to start from Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard in District 7, follow Nguyen Luong Bang Street, cross the river to Rung Sac Road, and lead down to the Can Gio seaside urban area.

It is expected to link with Metro Line 4, from Nhi Binh depot in Hoc Mon District to Hiep Phuoc urban area in Nha Be District.

The project is slated for research and implementation during the 2031-2050 period, where the initial phase may consider using a rapid bus transit system before investing in electric trains.

At a conference announcing HCMC's master plan on Saturday, PM Chinh said he had proposed Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate Vingroup to construct a subway system from the city center to Can Gio. He also suggested that the city should delegate more tasks to large enterprises to create additional drivers and resources for development.

Can Gio is about 50 km from the center of HCMC and is the only district of the city that borders the sea, with a 23 km coastline. The district covers 71,300 hectares, more than 70% of which are mangrove forests and waterways. The area is home to many traditional villages and cultural festivals, which are advantageous for developing types of agricultural and cultural tourism. HCMC's strategy is to leverage Can Gio's tourism strengths, aiming to develop and expand it into a regional and international tourism urban area.

A 2,870-hectare seaside urban area planned in Can Gio has a total investment exceeding VND282,800 billion (US$11.14 billion). Once completed, the project is expected to be home to over 228,000 people, three times the district's current population, and attract nearly 9 million tourists annually, creating over 36,000 jobs.

However, the transport connectivity from the city center to Can Gio has not developed proportionally. The only route to the seaside district is the single Rung Sac Road, which requires a ferry crossing. Proposals for a Can Gio bridge to replace the ferry have been made for many years but have yet to be implemented.

A road running through a forest in Can Gio District, HCMC, September 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

In addition to this metro line linking the inner city to Can Gio, HCMC's new master plan also includes a metro line (Line 11) using ground electric vehicles (tramway) or light rail transit (LRT). This line would run along the river connecting the inner city to Cu Chi District with a total length of nearly 49 km. This route is also aimed for investment during the 2031-2050 period.

HCMC has earlier planned to have 10 metro lines totaling 510 km in length. From now until 2035, the city aims to complete 7 lines totaling 355 km, including extension of the first line, Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien, which opened to traffic on Dec. 22 after 12 years of construction.

In the following decade, lines 8, 9, and 10 are also planned to be completed.

The total investment for these 10 metro lines is estimated at about $67 billion. HCMC has identified public investment as the main approach, through sources from the budget, developing TOD (transit-oriented development) models, issuing local bonds, etc. The city will also mobilize other sources such as domestic loans, and build-transfer contracts.