Vietnam’s Binh Duong proposes immediate launch of metro line project

The province stated in the pre-feasibility report for the metro line No. 1 project, submitted to the prime minister, the state appraisal council, and relevant ministries, that the project must proceed during the 2025–30 period.

The metro line will span over 29 kilometers, starting at Station S1 in the center of Binh Duong New City, located in Hoa Phu Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, and ending at Suoi Tien Coach Station, part of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1.

The project will feature an electrified double-track urban railway with a standard gauge of 1,435 mm and a design speed of 120 km/h. Land use for the project is estimated at 58 hectares.

Initially, the project will share infrastructure with the Long Binh Depot of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1. 

However, as the number of train sets increases in the future, a dedicated depot will be constructed in Phu Chanh Ward to handle operations and technical support.

Following input from the state appraisal council, Binh Duong has updated the pre-feasibility report. 

The total investment has now been adjusted to over VND46.7 trillion (US$1.8 billion), a reduction of VND9.576 trillion ($367 million) compared to the April 2025 submission.

The cost savings are attributed to optimization in construction, equipment, consulting, project management, and contingency items.

Notably, in this submission, Binh Duong proposes not using central government funding for the project. Instead, it will be financed through local budget and other legal sources.

The local budget will contribute VND16.725 trillion ($641.9 million), or 36 percent, while the remaining VND30 trillion ($1.2 billion) will be mobilized from urban development resources under the transit-oriented development model.

The province aims to complete the feasibility study in 2025 and substantially complete the project by 2031.

Binh Duong also requested special policies for the project, including 23 policies under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly and three under the authority of the government.

Explaining the need for these special policies before the administrative merger with Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province and Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong argues that waiting would jeopardize investment opportunities in critical infrastructure for the southern key economic region.

The project already meets all planning, technical, financial, and consensus criteria necessary for implementation.

The province also emphasized that the project cannot be postponed, given the rapidly rising urban and regional transportation demand.

Areas such as Binh Duong New City, Di An, and Suoi Tien are among the fastest-growing in terms of population, labor, and investment, while the current transport infrastructure is severely overloaded.

If the project does not commence in 2025–26, it risks exclusion from the upcoming mid-term public investment plan, thereby losing access to state budget allocations.

The operational metro line No. 1, starting at Ben Thanh Station in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, is already included in Binh Duong’s official action program.

In its submission, the People’s Committee of Binh Duong affirmed the accuracy of all project data and information.