Strategic infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Thiem gains momentum under new mechanisms
Situated at the eastern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Thiem New Urban Area, which has long held a pivotal role as a key connector between the city and the southeastern region, is now entering a decisive phase, marked by the simultaneous roll-out of multiple large-scale infrastructure projects under new mechanisms.
The city possesses the full set of conditions to construct strategic transport links to Thu Thiem New Urban Area, enabling it to emerge as a modern center in line with its role in this new era of development.
Determined to fast-track this transformation, the city has adopted detailed project management tools, including Gantt charts, to monitor progress and ensure that key infrastructure projects get off the ground simultaneously this year.
These landmark developments, expected to shape the city’s future, include a new political-administrative center, Thu Thiem 4 Bridge, metro line No. 2 connecting Ben Thanh and Thu Thiem, and Thu Thiem-Long Thanh Railway, alongside an integrated network of urban rail stations.
Thu Thiem is being positioned as a regional infrastructure hub.
From the pedestrian bridge and Thu Thiem 4 Bridge to An Phu Interchange, along with urban rail lines linking Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem-Long Thanh Airport, the transport network connecting Thu Thiem New Urban Area in Ho Chi Minh City is being rapidly expanded and upgraded in multiple directions.
It sits at the crossroads of major transport axes, including Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh Expressway, Thu Thiem Station on the North-South high-speed railway, and the city’s expanding metro system.
The area is also surrounded by critical logistics and transport nodes such as Long Thanh International Airport in neighboring Dong Nai Province, Cat Lai Port, and the Ben Thanh Metro Station, while lying near the city’s core.
In the near future, as transport infrastructure and flagship projects, including the political-administrative center, the international financial center, and major cultural institutions, come into operation, mobility flows are expected to increasingly converge on Thu Thiem.
To support this accelerated development, Ho Chi Minh City is applying special mechanisms under recent Resolutions 188 and 260 to expedite procedures and mobilize resources.
Officials across departments are working intensively to finalize administrative steps, with several projects expected to be ready for groundbreaking as early as April this year.
After over two years of renovation, the Saigon River waterfront on the Thu Thiem side has taken on a new look, featuring green parks and open landscapes.
Projects set to get off ground
As per current plans, the city will start work on the Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem section of the second metro line, and the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway in April and June, respectively.
Also, road infrastructure is being rapidly upgraded and expanded to improve connectivity.
Work is underway on widening Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh Expressway, with completion targeted within the year.
Another notable project is a pedestrian bridge over the Saigon River, funded by Nutifood.
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the bridge is expected to serve not only as an architectural landmark but also as a vital link between the existing city center and Thu Thiem.
Located in Thu Thiem New Urban Area, a political-administrative center, set to cover an area of 7.84 hectares, is expected to get off the ground in the second quarter of 2026. It will accommodate around 7,000 officials, with a planned height of up to 30 stories.
An international financial center spanning some 7.8 hectares is located in Thu Thiem New Urban Area and is envisioned as a regional financial hub. It will focus on high-end services, fintech, and green finance, while facilitating international capital flows. The project is expected to require an investment of around US$7 billion, highlighted by a 99-story tower.
Walking along the Thu Thiem riverfront, people can clearly see wide roads, green spaces, and structures gradually taking shape.
Ho Chi Minh City has approved an investment plan for Thu Thiem 4 Bridge, with its starting point on Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard and its endpoint on Nguyen Co Thach Street in Thu Thiem New Urban Area.
As planned, the 6.2-kilometer Ben Thanh-Thu Thiem section of metro line No. 2 will run underground from Ho Chi Minh City’s central core and link the downtown area with Thu Thiem New Urban Area.
An Phu Interchange, connecting with Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, is under construction to ease congestion. Once completed, travel between Thu Thiem and the expressway will be more convenient, reducing the concentration of traffic on a few smaller roads.
Tieu Bac - Duc Phu - Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre News