Vehicles banned from downtown HCMC for rescue drills at metro line

The no-vehicle area would include Tran Hung Dao from Ky Con to Ham Nghi streets, a section of Le Loi Boulevard from Ham Nghi to Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, and a section of Ham Nghi from Tran Hung Dao to Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, according to the city’s Department of Transport.

In addition, a section of Le Lai from Truong Dinh to Le Loi Street, Huynh Thuc Khang from Le Loi to Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, a section of Phan Chu Trinh from Le Thanh Ton to Le Lai, and Phan Boi Chau from Le Thanh Ton to Le Loi will also be closed to vehicles.

The ban is due to take place from 5:00-7:30 a.m. on December 4-18 and December 20, and from 9 a.m. to midday on December 21-23.

Vehicles will be directed to take alternate routes during the period.

Costing over VND43.7 trillion (US$1.79 billion), the city's first metro line spans 20 km, from Ben Thanh Station in District 1 to the Long Binh Depot in Thu Duc City. Construction began on the project in 2012.

The metro line is 95% complete and is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. The first line is expected to open fully in July next year.