Ho Chi Minh City authorities have announced plans to complete three key urban rail routes by 2030, aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and providing direct rail links between Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport. The city has submitted proposals to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to accelerate the implementation of Metro Line 2 and the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh urban railway.
The priority projects include Metro Line 2’s Tham Luong–Ben Thanh section, the Ben Thanh–Thu Thiem section, and the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh urban railway. City agencies have been instructed to fast-track appraisal and approval procedures for the Tham Luong–Ben Thanh section, with construction targeted to commence before January 19, 2026. For the remaining sections, investment options under public-private partnership (PPP), including build–transfer (BT) models, are under review.
Under the updated national railway development plan for 2021–2030, approved in October 2025, the Thu Thiem–Long Thanh line has been reclassified as an urban railway and integrated into provincial planning for both Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province. The three routes are expected to form the backbone of the city’s airport-to-airport rail connectivity while supporting transit-oriented development (TOD) along major corridors. Challenges remain in land acquisition, financing, and complex underground construction, but the city plans to leverage special policy mechanisms under Resolution 188/2025 and the Railway Law to shorten timelines and ensure delivery by 2030.
