Groundbreaking of Metro Line 2 and Series of Projects in Ho Chi Minh City to Celebrate the Party Congress

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has announced a plan to launch and inaugurate various projects and initiatives in celebration of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

On December 19th, multiple large-scale infrastructure projects will break ground simultaneously. Notably, the new Youth Cultural House will be constructed, featuring 21 floors and 4 basements, with a total investment of over VND 2,240 billion.

In the transportation sector, the city will commence work on Component 1 of Ring Road 2 (from Phu Huu Bridge to Vo Nguyen Giap Street, spanning over 3.5 km) with a total investment of VND 2,653 billion, and Component 2 of Ring Road 2 (from Vo Nguyen Giap Street to Pham Van Dong Street).

Additionally, the plan includes the launch of Component 2 of the HCMC – Moc Bai Expressway, Phase 1, with a total investment of VND 2,422 billion.

Other significant projects set to begin on December 19th include the upgrade and expansion of Hoi Bai – Phuoc Tan Road (DT992) from National Highway 51 to the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, and the construction of Nguyen Khoai Bridge and Road, with a total investment of VND 3,724 billion.

Beyond the projects launching on December 19th, other major initiatives registered for the Congress celebration include HCMC Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh – Tham Luong section); dredging, environmental improvement, and infrastructure development of Xuyen Tam Canal (from Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal to Vam Thuat River); and dredging, infrastructure development, and environmental enhancement of the northern bank of Doi Canal, spanning 4.3 km.

Furthermore, the HCMC Ring Road 3 will open for technical traffic in the areas of Long Truong, Long Phuoc, and Long Binh wards.

Metro Line 2 is expected to break ground in early 2026, a project eagerly awaited by residents for many years.

The Ben Thanh – Tham Luong metro line will feature 10 stations, including 9 underground and 1 elevated station. The line spans over 11.2 km, with more than 9.2 km underground. Additionally, the Ben Thanh – Thu Thiem section of Metro Line 2 will include approximately 6 km of underground tunnels along Ham Nghi and Mai Chi Tho Avenues. The total investment is projected to increase to VND 52,047 billion due to scope expansions, technology updates, and price adjustments.

Approved in 2010, the initial investment for this metro line was VND 26,100 billion. Two years later, the capital was revised upward due to factors such as price fluctuations, financial costs, and construction expenses. By 2017, the HCMC People’s Committee sought approval from the Prime Minister to adjust the investment for Phase 1 of Line 2 to VND 48,711 billion. The majority of this funding, approximately VND 37,487 billion, comes from ODA loans provided by three main sponsors: the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the German Development Bank (KfW), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

However, due to various subjective and objective factors, including land clearance issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and delays in capital arrangement, the project could not commence as scheduled. The loan agreements with the sponsors have expired.

Facing challenges with ODA loans, the HCMC People’s Committee Party Committee agreed to switch to using the city’s budget to fund the project’s subsequent phases. The adjusted timeline now sets the project’s start for 2025 and completion for 2030.

In June 2023, the HCMC Urban Railway Management Board initiated the construction of technical infrastructure to prepare a clear site for Metro Line 2.

Currently, the project owner is accelerating the relocation of technical infrastructure, with multiple construction teams working overnight to prepare the site for the anticipated groundbreaking in early 2026.