The Thủ Thiêm - Long Thành rail project, valued at more than 175 trillion VND, has officially entered the evaluation phase, with plans to begin construction later this year. The project is a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing transportation between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thành International Airport.
The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has established a 21-member evaluation council, chaired by Trần Quang Lâm, the Director of the Department of Construction. The council's primary responsibility is to assess the feasibility report of the project in accordance with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment law and relevant government decrees.
The evaluation report must thoroughly assess all aspects of the project, highlighting areas of consensus and disagreement, as well as suggesting solutions for any necessary improvements before submission to the relevant authorities.
The proposed rail line will stretch approximately 47.7 kilometers, traversing Ho Chi Minh City and Đồng Nai, and will directly connect the city center to Long Thành International Airport. The design includes 18 stations, with 2 underground and 16 elevated stations.
Initially, Ho Chi Minh City plans to invest in 14 stations during the first phase, which includes stations at Bình Trưng, Đỗ Xuân Hợp, and several others. The rail line will start at Thủ Thiêm station, extending overhead through various districts, and will run parallel to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thành - Dầu Giây expressway.
Once it reaches Đồng Nai, the line will continue overhead alongside the Beltway 3 before transitioning into an underground section near the Long Thành Airport area, concluding at the Cẩm Đường depot.
To implement the project, over 144 hectares of land will need to be acquired. Compensation and land clearance efforts will be managed as a separate component of the project, funded by the budgets of Ho Chi Minh City and Đồng Nai.
With a preliminary total investment of around 175 trillion VND, the project is expected to be executed under a Build-Transfer (BT) model. The goal is to commence construction by September 2 of this year, with completion and operational readiness targeted for 2030.
Once operational, the Thủ Thiêm - Long Thành rail line is anticipated to serve as a major transportation corridor, significantly reducing travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Long Thành Airport.
