The projects form part of the city's ambitious rail expansion programme, which targets around 255 kilometres of metro lines by 2030 and more than 500 kilometres by 2035.
According to Tran Quang Lam, director of the HCM City Department of Construction, expanding roads alone could not resolve congestion in a major metropolis, making urban rail essential to future transport planning.
Five metro projects are being prepared for construction by late 2026, including two under public-private partnerships and three financed through public investment.
The publicly funded projects comprise two lines serving the former Binh Duong area and the first phase of Metro Line 6, connecting Tan Son Nhat Airport with Phu Huu.
The 32.8-kilometre Binh Duong New City-Suoi Tien line is estimated to cost VND 55 trillion (USD 2.1 billion). It will connect the former Binh Duong urban centre with the existing Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line.
A second route, linking Thu Dau Mot with central HCM City, will stretch approximately 35 kilometres and cost VND 113 trillion (USD 4.3 billion).
The line is planned to have 24 stations, evenly divided between elevated and underground sections, and will connect with the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong metro at Tao Dan Station.
Metro Line 6's first phase, running 22.9 kilometres from Tan Son Nhat to Phu Huu, will include 17 stations and require more than VND 86.5 trillion (USD 3.3 billion).
The route is designed to link the airport with eastern HCM City and the planned Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway, strengthening connections between major transport hubs.
Phan Cong Bang, head of the HCM City Urban Railway Management Board, said the three publicly funded projects were expected to receive approval in December and break ground before the end of 2026.
The city aims to bring the lines into operation around 2030, although land clearance and investment preparations remain under way.
Meanwhile, two projects planned under public-private partnerships are the Tham Luong-An Ha section of Metro Line 2 and the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway.
HCM City is also studying Metro Line 3, connecting Vung Tau, Ba Ria and Phu My, with a proposed extension to Long Thanh International Airport.
The extension would require additional planning in Dong Nai, where the relevant section has yet to be incorporated into the railway network plan.
Under its longer-term vision, HCM City plans a metro network of approximately 28 lines stretching 1,500 kilometres, aiming for public transport to account for 55-60 per cent of travel demand by 2050.
Officials say prioritising rail connections to airports, transport hubs and regional urban centres will help ease road congestion, improve freight and passenger connectivity and support economic growth.