Ho Chi Minh City will simultaneously begin construction at several underground stations on Metro Line 2 from Oct. 10, triggering extensive traffic diversions across the city center and major gateways.
From Oct. 10, construction of Metro Line 2, connecting Ben Thanh and Tham Luong, will turn parts of central Ho Chi Minh City and its major gateways into sprawling construction zones. Authorities will introduce extensive traffic diversions around three key underground stations: Tao Dan, Bay Hien and Nguyen Hong Dao.
Vu Van Vinh, Director of Project Management Unit 2 under the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), said construction permits for the three underground stations were issued in mid-September. The simultaneous installation of construction barriers from Oct. 10 will be a decisive step toward beginning underground excavation work.
Vu Van Vinh, Director of Project Management Unit 2 under MAUR, provides details of traffic diversions for Metro Line 2 construction. Photo: TK
Procedures for traffic diversion permits are also being finalized for two underground stations in the city center, Ben Thanh and Dan Chu. Construction barriers are expected to be installed simultaneously at both sites in early November.
The barriers and traffic diversions along major roads are expected to significantly affect daily life, businesses and travel. Authorities have advised residents to familiarize themselves with the specific traffic adjustments around each station to minimize disruption.
From Oct. 10, around Tao Dan Station, the section of Cach Mang Thang Tam Street between Nguyen Du and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets will become one-way toward Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.
Traffic traveling in the opposite direction will be diverted onto alternative routes including Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Huyen Tran Cong Chua, Thu Khoa Huan, Le Thanh Ton and Pham Hong Thai streets.
The section of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street between Cao Thang and Huyen Tran Cong Chua will also become one-way. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction will be redirected via Truong Dinh, Vo Van Tan or Nguyen Dinh Chieu before reaching Cao Thang.
At the Bay Hien intersection, the station construction site will occupy the middle of the junction. Vehicles approaching from Truong Chinh Street will therefore be required to turn right onto Ly Thuong Kiet or left onto Hoang Van Thu and will not be allowed to continue straight onto Cach Mang Thang Tam.
Vehicles approaching the intersection from Cach Mang Thang Tam will also be required to turn right onto Hoang Van Thu.
Around Nguyen Hong Dao Station, passenger cars and trucks traveling toward Bay Hien will be prohibited from using the section of Truong Chinh Street between Truong Cong Dinh and Dong Den. These vehicles will instead be diverted via Truong Cong Dinh, Bau Cat and Dong Den streets.
Ben Thanh excavation to reach 30 meters, Dan Chu to get 'large roundabout'
In November, authorities will install construction barriers around Ben Thanh Station at the intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Pham Ngu Lao streets.
Traffic congestion around the Pham Van Bach underground station construction site in mid-September 2026. Photo: TK
The station will have four underground levels and require excavation to a depth of 30 meters. As a result, the section of Pham Ngu Lao Street extending from the New World hotel area near the Phu Dong six-way intersection to Truong Dinh Street and the adjacent park will be completely closed for construction barriers to be erected.
The grid-like street network in the area is expected to make traffic management relatively manageable.
Authorities will keep several major routes operating. Le Thanh Ton Street will continue carrying traffic toward Nguyen Thai Hoc, coordinated with diversions around Tao Dan Station, while the section of Pham Ngu Lao leading to the Le Lai intersection will remain open.
Traffic will also be organized from Le Loi toward Tran Hung Dao and Pham Ngu Lao, while the route along Ham Nghi Street, home to a major bus station, will remain operational to maintain traffic flow.
Around Dan Chu Station, once approval for temporary roads is granted, traffic at the six-way Dan Chu intersection will be reorganized under a "large roundabout" model.
The city will expand traffic islands and redirect approaching vehicles through surrounding streets to reduce congestion at the intersection.
Meanwhile, work on diaphragm walls and guide walls is continuing at stations where construction sites have already been fenced off, including Le Thi Rieng, Pham Van Hai, Ba Queo and Pham Van Bach.
At Pham Van Bach Station in the Tham Luong area, median strips at nearby intersections have been completely closed, requiring vehicles to make U-turns at a newly opened point opposite Co.opmart Thang Loi.
MAUR representatives said that although the extensive construction will substantially disrupt traffic patterns in the city center, at least 7.5 meters of roadway will remain available at locations affected by construction barriers, supplemented by temporary roads.
Traffic personnel will be deployed around the clock to adjust vehicle flows, minimize congestion and limit disruption to residents' daily lives.
Metro Line 2 will run for about 11.3 kilometers and has a total investment of more than VND55 trillion ($2.09 billion).
Under the current schedule, the project aims to begin tunnel boring machine, or TBM, operations in October 2027, complete the main structural works for its stations by March 2029 and bring the entire line into commercial operation by the end of 2030.
Vietnamnet.vn
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