Site clearance on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street for Metro Line 2 project (Photo by Khoa Nguyen)
Ho Chi Minh City's Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro project (Metro Line 2), with a total investment of VND 47.8 trillion (USD 1.81 billion), is scheduled to begin construction on January 15, 2026.
According to Phan Cong Bang, head of the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), the project had not been expected to start before late 2026 because it required National Assembly approval and time-consuming consultant selection.
However, the National Assembly's Resolution 188/2025 on special mechanisms for metro development has streamlined the process, removing the need for parliamentary approval and allowing the city to directly appoint contractors.
Under the resolution, the central government will allocate about VND 206 trillion (USD 7.83 billion) to Ho Chi Minh City for urban railway development during the periods 2026 to 2030 and 2030 to 2035. The city has also prepared its own budget to prioritise key projects.
'For Metro Line 2, annual capital needs are around VND 10 trillion, and combined central and local budgets can meet this,' Bang said.
The 11 km line, including 9 km underground, is slated for 57 months of construction and completion in 2030. Extensive relocation of drainage systems, power lines and water pipes must be finished before tunnel boring can begin.
Since April 2024, MAUR has moved more than 70 per cent of underground infrastructure, with several underground station sites already cleared.
Bang added that relocating utilities along heavily trafficked roads remains the biggest challenge, as contractors can work only from 11pm to 4am. Unexpected obstacles and undocumented underground structures have also caused repeated delays.
Despite these hurdles, MAUR aims to complete all site clearance in 2025 to ensure the main line can break ground as scheduled next January.
Running along Cach Mang Thang Tam and Truong Chinh streets, two of the city's busiest corridors, Metro Line 2 is expected to ease traffic between the city centre and the former Tan Binh District.
