Ho Chi Minh City seeks UK support for 532km metro network

The official on Tuesday met with Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and a British delegation comprising the UK ambassador to Vietnam and the British consul general in Ho Chi Minh City.

The delegation is visiting the city to attend the Autumn Economic Forum 2026, which runs until Thursday.

Chairman Duoc affirmed that the UK is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s key trade and investment partners in Europe.

The city hopes British partners will share their expertise, technology, management capabilities, and financial resources to support the development of its urban railway system.

In response to the call, Baroness Winterton said British companies are interested in supplying equipment and solutions for the construction of metro lines in Ho Chi Minh City.

Expanding cooperation across multiple sectors

As Vietnam and the UK elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in late October last year, Ho Chi Minh City is seeking to strengthen practical and effective cooperation while creating favorable conditions for British businesses to expand their investment and operations in the city.

Regarding the development of the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City, chairman Duoc said the city needs greater expertise, capacity, and participation from international financial institutions.

The UK has extensive experience in establishing, developing, and operating financial centers.

As such, the city expects British businesses, banks, and financial institutions to work with domestic financial organizations and contribute to the development of the center, he said.

“Participation by British partners will help the city gain access to international expertise, foster its operational capabilities, and improve its connectivity with global financial markets,” he stressed.

Education is another promising area for bilateral cooperation, particularly in training the workforce needed to support the city’s emerging development priorities.

As the city plans to develop its downtown areas into hubs for finance, services, commerce, and technology, it desires to strengthen connections among universities, training institutions, and businesses in both countries.

Perfecting legal framework expected to build investor confidence

Baroness Winterton affirmed that the UK highly values its relationship with Vietnam, particularly as the two countries marked the first anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

She noted that nearly 12,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying in the UK.

British universities are also exploring opportunities to establish branch campuses in Vietnam.

Baroness Winterton expressed her hope that there would be more British training programs, courses, and educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City.

She said British education providers want to better understand Vietnam’s training needs, particularly in fields aligned with emerging development trends and labor market demand, including financial services and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Regarding the International Financial Center, Baroness Winterton emphasized the need for both sides to identify specific areas in which Vietnam requires support, including improvements to the legal framework to strengthen investor confidence.

She also expressed interest in hearing further proposals from the city to identify practical opportunities for cooperation.

Baroness Winterton added that the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 provided an opportunity for Vietnam and the UK to exchange views on economic, trade, and investment cooperation, with the shared goal of promoting sustainable growth.