Ho Chi Minh City to break ground on 2nd metro early next year

By VNA November 16, 2025 | 06:42 pm PT

Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in Ho Chi Minh City where the city's second metro line will run through. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Ho Chi Minh City plans to start construction on its Metro Line No. 2 in January 2026, officials said, as the city pushes to ease chronic congestion by accelerating long-delayed upgrades to its strained urban transport network.

The Ben Thanh–Tham Luong line, estimated to cost VND47.8 trillion (US$1.8 billion), is expected to take nearly five years to build and enter service around 2030.

The project will be financed by both the central government and the city, which plans to spend about VND10 trillion a year on the line.

Phan Cong Bang, Director of the city’s Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), said contractors aim to secure municipal approval next month and break ground on Jan. 15, 2026.

The timeline has been brought forward after the National Assembly earlier this year approved special rules allowing HCMC to bypass certain investment-approval steps and use direct contractor appointments.

Contractors estimate construction will take roughly 57 months for the 11 km line, including 9 km underground.

Before tunneling can begin, the city must clear and relocate a dense network of utilities – sewer lines, power cables and water pipes – along major streets such as Cach Mang Thang Tam and Truong Chinh.

MAUR began utility relocation in April and said more than 70% of the work is completed. Some station sites have been fully cleared, though others remain held up by overlapping responsibilities among utility operators and by limits on night-time construction.

Crews can only access work sites after 11 p.m. and must restore traffic flow by 4 a.m., slowing progress. Heavy rains in recent months have added delays.

City officials said they intend to finish all clearance and utility relocation by the end of 2025 to keep the project on schedule.

Once completed, metro line No. 2 is expected to ease pressure on some of the city's busiest corridors, linking the central Ben Thanh area with the northwest and connecting with Line 1 toward Suoi Tien.

MAUR has submitted technical and regulatory documents to the city government, which is expected to forward them to the Ministry of Construction this week.

Remaining procedures, including the feasibility study, environmental assessment and technical design, are slated to finish between November and December 2025.