The Vietnamese government has approved a project to extend the metro line in Ho Chi Minh City to Long Thanh International Airport. The decision was approved on March 10th by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The project is planned to be implemented under a special accelerated mechanism, which allows for the reduction of some procedures and faster commencement of construction.
The first urban metro line in Ho Chi Minh City, with a length of 19.7 km, was launched in December 2024 after many years of construction. The project cost more than 43.7 trillion dong (1.66 billion dollars) and includes 14 stations, including three underground. The journey between the terminal stations takes about 30 minutes.
The idea to extend the metro line arose against the backdrop of the accelerated construction of Long Thanh International Airport, which is to become the largest aviation hub in southern Vietnam and relieve Tan Son Nhat Airport. At the end of February, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed to complete the first phase of the airport construction in the first half of 2026.
Currently, the main way to get from Ho Chi Minh City to the future airport is via the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressway, which is already often overloaded. After the airport opens, an increase in traffic flow in this direction is expected. The extension of the metro line should become one of the key infrastructure projects that will help to relieve the roads.