Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam’s largest economic hub, faces pressing urban challenges due to rapid population growth and economic expansion. The inauguration of the HCMC Metro Line 1, in December 2024, marks a transformative moment in the city’s transportation history. As the first metro line in HCMC, it represents a foundational step in modernising Vietnam’s urban transit infrastructure and offers a potential model for future development across the country.
Project overview
The HCMC Metro Line 1, officially known as the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Line, spans 19.7 km, of which 2.6 km is underground and 17.1 km is elevated. It connects the city centre, starting from Ben Thanh Market to Suoi Tien Theme Park on the northwestern outskirts. The line comprises 14 stations, including three underground stations and 11 elevated stations. The route includes key stops at Le Loi, Nguyen Sieu, Ngo Van Nam, Ton Duc Thang, Ba Son, Nguyen Huu Canh, Van Thanh, Dien Bien Phu, and ends at Long Binh Depot, District 9.
Metro Line 1 has reduced the travel time between its two terminals from 90 minutes by road during rush hours to just 30 minutes, significantly enhancing commuting efficiency. The metro system is expected to initially accommodate 150,000 passengers daily, with projections rising to 635,000 passengers by 2035. The line already attracts a daily average of 75,000 commuters, showcasing the system’s growing popularity and reliability.
The planning for Metro Line 1 began in the early 2000s and construction officially commenced in 2012. The line was originally scheduled for completion in 2017 but encountered numerous challenges. These included funding shortages, logistical complexities, the Covid-19 pandemic and the inherent technical difficulties of building infrastructure in a densely populated and rapidly evolving urban environment. As a result, project costs escalated beyond initial estimates, reflecting the unpredictable nature of large-scale urban construction in developing cities.
Funding and international collaboration
The project was executed as a joint effort between the Vietnamese government, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and several international contractors. The total cost of Metro Line 1 is approximately $2.3 billion, with 80 per cent of the cost covered by JICA loans and the remaining 20 per cent financed by the Vietnamese government.
Japanese and Korean involvement was integral to the project’s successful delivery. Japanese company Sumitomo Corporation, Korean construction firm GS Engineering & Construction Corporation and engineering consultancy SYSTRA played leading roles throughout the 12-year construction period. Multinational teams from various countries collaborated on the design and implementation of key structural components, including 17 km of U-shaped viaducts. In May 2025, Tokyo Metro began providing operation and maintenance advisory services to Urban Railway Company No. 1 (HURC1), the local operator of Line 1. This initiative is part of a broader advisory effort led by Nippon Koei Company Limited, commissioned by the Management Authority for Urban Railways in HCMC. The collaboration aims to ensure the line operates smoothly and meets international standards in terms of safety and efficiency.
Technology integration and passenger convenience
The HCMC Line 1 integrates advanced technology and commuter-friendly design, featuring modern rolling stock, accessible stations and a seamless smart ticketing system to enhance the urban travel experience.
Rolling stock: The rolling stock was manufactured and assembled in Japan and adheres to Japanese railway safety standards. Hitachi Limited supplied 17 three-car trains, each measuring over 60 metres and capable of transporting 930 passengers. The trains are fully air-conditioned and equipped with automatic train control systems to ensure scheduling precision and operational safety. These driverless trains offer speeds of up to 110 kmph on elevated sections and 80 kmph in tunnels.
Station infrastructure: Station infrastructure has been designed for both safety and accessibility. Automatic platform screen doors have been installed to prevent accidents, and the facilities include elevators and ramps, making them fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Ticketing: There has been significant focus on integrating smart ticketing solutions. In April 2025, the HCMC Department of Transport launched a comprehensive smart mobility suite, which includes an open-loop e-ticketing system, the MultiPass smart card, and the MultiGO mobile application. The open-loop system allows passengers to use credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, e-wallets, smartphones and wearables for fare payment. The MultiGO application also serves as a centralised digital platform for route planning, ticket purchases and MultiPass registration, offering commuters greater convenience and flexibility. In February 2025, National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) domestic cards were integrated into the payment system, allowing passengers to tap in and out using locally issued cards. The automated ticketing system, developed by Sacombank and partners, supports payments through Mastercard and QR codes via the HCMC Metro HURC application.
Expansion plans
Metro Line 1 is just the beginning of a much larger vision. The project is a key part of a master plan to construct eight metro lines spanning 220 km by 2030, with a projected investment of over $25 billion. The extended network aims to link major urban areas with suburban and inter-provincial regions. Metro Line 1 itself is expected to eventually extend to nearby cities like Binh Duong and Bien Hoa. Additionally, Metro Line 2, which will run 11.3 km from Ben Thanh Market to Tham Luong in District 12, is currently under construction. The project has completed 100 per cent of land compensation and clearance procedures, with 99 per cent of the cleared land ready for construction.
In August 2025, the HCMC People’s Committee approved preparatory investments for two new inter-provincial metro lines that will connect HCMC with Binh Duong province, with a combined estimated cost of over $3.8 billion. Under this, Metro Line 1 will be extended by 29 km from Suoi Tien to New Binh Duong City. The extended line will include 17 stations and terminate at Suoi Tien station, sharing the Long Binh depot with the existing Line 1. This fully elevated extension is expected to cost approximately $1.83 billion. Metro Line 2 (Thu Dau Mot City-HCMC) will span 21.9 km, include 13 stations, and connect to Metro Line 3 at Hiep Binh Phuoc Station. This line, also fully elevated, is expected to cost $1.98 billion and will share depot facilities. Besides, in August 2025, a consortium led by DonaCoop and VinaCapital proposed a $2.5 billion metro line connecting HCMC with the Long Thanh international airport in Dong Nai province. The 40 km extension of Metro Line 1 will pass through Bien Hoa’s new administrative centre, with an additional 5 km branch planned into former Bien Hoa town. This line will be executed under a public-private partnership on a build-transfer contract, financed entirely by private capital. In parallel, Dong Nai province is planning another 21 km metro line from Suoi Tien to Ho Nai ward at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion.
The metro project, which connects key districts in HCMC, represents the Vietnamese government’s long-term vision to modernise its urban infrastructure and foster sustainable urban development. Beyond addressing traffic congestion in HCMC, it is a testament to international cooperation and private participation.
