Metro Line 2: Night Construction Underway, Set to Commence in January 2026

On the evening of November 13th, Mr. Phan Công Bằng, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, led a working group to inspect the site and review the progress of relocating technical infrastructure for Metro Line 2 (Bến Thành – Tham Lương) at Ga Bảy Hiền station, a critical construction site of the project.

70% Completion in Relocating Metro Line 2 Infrastructure

Metro Line 2 spans over 11 km, starting from the intersection of Tôn Đức Thắng and Hàm Nghi (Bến Thành Ward) and ending at Tham Lương Depot (Đông Hưng Thuận Ward). It includes a 9 km underground section, a nearly 1 km elevated section, and a 0.9 km depot branch. The line features 10 stations (9 underground, 1 elevated) with a total investment of over VND 47.8 trillion.

According to the Urban Railway Management Board, the relocation and reinstatement of technical infrastructure include electricity, water supply, telecommunications, lighting, greenery, and traffic signals along the entire route. This phase is considered a mandatory “preliminary step” before commencing underground construction.

Construction is challenging due to limited urban space, especially along Cách Mạng Tháng Tám and Trường Chinh streets, where vehicle density is consistently high. Multiple infrastructure components managed by different entities complicate coordination, while underground structures, pipelines, and tangled electrical cables prolong on-site handling and technical agreements.

To date, cumulative construction progress has reached approximately 70%, with some stations fully completed. The management board reports that major obstacles have been resolved, and infrastructure relocation is expected to finish by late 2025, paving the way for underground construction to begin in early 2026.

2030 Inter-Regional Metro Network

Mr. Phan Công Bằng stated that the board is expediting documentation and procedures to commence Metro Line 2 construction about a year ahead of schedule. “Following the Prime Minister and city leadership’s directive to ‘accelerate Metro Line 2 before the National Party Congress,’ we recognize this as both a significant challenge and a motivation to speed up efforts,” Mr. Bằng shared.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has submitted technology approval and standard framework documents, with project investment approval expected by December 15th to select the EPC contractor. Main line construction is slated to begin on January 15, 2026.

Metro Line 2 faces complex construction conditions due to its predominantly underground route through densely populated residential areas. Most relocation packages are executed at night, from 11 PM to 4 AM, and are affected by weather and traffic. If all goes well, main packages will commence in early 2026, with a projected 57-month construction period.

Upon completion, Metro Line 2 will significantly reduce traffic congestion along the Cách Mạng Tháng 8 – Trường Chinh axis, connecting the city center to the northwest region. It will also integrate with Metro Line 1 (Bến Thành – Suối Tiên), forming an expanded regional metro network.

Regarding funding, Mr. Phan Công Bằng noted that from 2026 to 2030, the central budget plans to allocate VND 209 trillion for urban railway development, with Metro Line 2 requiring approximately VND 10 trillion annually to ensure timely progress.

Concurrently, Ho Chi Minh City is preparing to launch Metro Line 6, connecting Tan Son Nhat Airport, Pham Van Dong, Ring Road 2, and Long Thanh, to enhance regional connectivity and alleviate traffic in the northeastern area.

According to the Urban Railway Management Board, other metro lines such as Line 3 (An Hạ – Hiệp Bình Phước) and extensions to Hiệp Bình Phước – Thu Duc and Suoi Tien Bus Station – Binh Duong New City are also planned for the upcoming phase, aiming to establish a synchronized inter-regional metro network by 2030.