The People's Committee of Dong Nai Province has approved the joint venture of DonaCoop and VinaCapital as the investor for the proposed metro extension project from Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien to Bien Hoa City and Long Thanh International Airport. The project will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

This metro extension is expected to boost inter-provincial connectivity, linking Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Long Thanh International Airport while supporting the development of smart urban infrastructure.

According to the approval decision, the proposed project will span approximately 38.5 kilometers, divided into three sections: a 6.5 km segment from Station S0 to Dong Nai’s new administrative center (Bien Hoa Industrial Park 1), a 27 km segment from the administrative center to Long Thanh airport, and a 5 km segment from the center to the old downtown of Bien Hoa.

Dong Nai's Department of Finance has been assigned as the agency responsible for receiving the project documents. The investors must submit a proposal within nine months from the approval date.

Previously, the investors had submitted a letter of intent to local authorities outlining plans to prepare the investment proposal for the extension of Metro Line 1 (Suoi Tien - Long Thanh), incorporating a transit-oriented development (TOD) model.

The total estimated investment for the project is around 65 trillion VND (approx. USD 2.6 billion), excluding compensation and land clearance costs. The entire capital is expected to come from private sources within the joint venture and its partners.

This metro extension is projected to improve regional transport efficiency, foster smart city development, and support stronger regional economic integration.

Hoang Anh