Ho Chi Minh City completed four major transportation projects in 2024, including the long-awaited Metro Line 1 and the Nguyen Van Linh–Nguyen Huu Tho underpass, improving connectivity and easing congestion.
Metro Line 1: A game-changer for urban transit
Ho Chi Minh City residents experience Metro Line 1 during its early days of operation. (Photo: Nguyen Hue)
Approved in 2007 and commenced in 2012, Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien), with a total investment of over 43.7 trillion VND (approximately $1.83 billion), officially began operations on December 22, 2024.
The line spans 19.7 km, connecting downtown Ho Chi Minh City with the eastern gateway. It features 14 stations, including three underground and 11 elevated, with a depot in Long Binh, Thu Duc City, covering 20 hectares.
The metro operates 17 trains, each consisting of three cars with a capacity of 930 passengers. Trains reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h on elevated sections and 80 km/h underground.
Daily operations involve nine trains running approximately 200 trips from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with intervals of 8–12 minutes. The journey from Suoi Tien Station (near the new Eastern Bus Station in Thu Duc) to Ben Thanh Station in District 1 takes around 30 minutes.
By December 30, Metro Line 1 had served nearly 1 million passengers in its first nine days, with an average of over 566 passengers per trip.
Nguyen Van Linh–Nguyen Huu Tho underpass: Easing southern gateway congestion
The Nguyen Van Linh–Nguyen Huu Tho underpass reduces congestion in southern Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: GA)
On December 30, the second phase of the Nguyen Van Linh–Nguyen Huu Tho underpass project was completed, with the final section opening for traffic.
The project, which began in April 2020 with an investment of 830 billion VND (approximately $34.7 million), includes two 456-meter-long underpasses, each with three lanes.
This project has significantly alleviated congestion at one of the city’s busiest intersections, connecting central Ho Chi Minh City with Nha Be District and the Hiep Phuoc Port area.
Upgrading National Highway 50: A critical connection
A newly completed parallel section of National Highway 50 was opened on December 30, reducing traffic pressure on the existing road.
This upgrade is part of a larger project to expand the highway in Binh Chanh District, with a total investment of nearly 1.5 trillion VND (approximately $63 million).
The 7 km project includes a 4.2 km parallel road and an expansion of the remaining section to 34 meters wide, accommodating six lanes. While some portions are still under construction, full completion is expected in 2025.
Tran Quoc Hoan–Cong Hoa link: Enhancing airport access
The Phan Thuc Duyen–Tran Quoc Hoan underpass, completed in August 2024, enhances airport access. (Photo: Tuan Kiet)
The Tran Quoc Hoan–Cong Hoa road project, launched in December 2022, aims to streamline access to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Despite delays due to land clearance issues, several key components were completed in 2024.
On August 10, the Phan Thuc Duyen–Tran Quoc Hoan underpass opened after 1.5 years of construction. This 200 billion VND (approximately $8.35 million) project features a 600-meter-long, six-lane road.
By November, another section connecting the underpass to Thang Long Street and Road 18E was completed, further easing traffic flow around the airport.
The entire project, costing 4.85 trillion VND (approximately $202 million), is set to be completed by April 2025, aligning with the construction timeline of Tan Son Nhat Airport’s Terminal 3.
Additional milestones in 2024
Several other transportation projects were also completed in 2024:
The Cay Kho Bridge, linking Nha Be and Binh Chanh districts, opened on August 30 after six years of construction. The project cost 500 billion VND (approximately $21 million).
The Nam Ly Bridge, eliminating a bottleneck in the city’s eastern gateway, was inaugurated on October 2 at a cost of 731 billion VND (approximately $30.5 million).
The Rach Dia Bridge on Le Van Luong Street, costing over 500 billion VND, was completed on November 28, facilitating travel between District 7 and Nha Be District.
The Long Phuoc Bridge and the Tan Ky Tan Quy Road expansion, with investments of 740 billion VND and 1.2 trillion VND respectively, were opened on December 30.
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