The proposal, submitted to the Ministry of Construction, outlines a route that would branch off from the existing metro line at Tan Van, an intersection between the two localities. From there, it would cross the Dong Nai River and run along National Highway 1 toward the province’s new administrative center.
The extended line would then follow the planned Bien Hoa – Long Thanh railway corridor and Provincial Road 771, intersect the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh Expressway, and end at the airport.
The preliminary cost for the extension is estimated at VND60.261 trillion (US$2.28 billion), which includes VND4.323 trillion allocated for compensation and resettlement. The project requires approximately 192 hectares of land.
Dong Nai has proposed implementing the extension under a public-private partnership using a build-transfer contract. Under this model, investors would manage construction while the state budget covers land clearance. The expected timeline for the project spans from 2026 to 2030.
The 20-km Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien is currently HCMC’s only operational metro line, which began operations in December 2024 with 14 stations, including three underground stops in the city center. A second metro line is under construction.
Dong Nai authorities emphasized that Long Thanh Airport is a pivotal national project. As the airport is scheduled to become operational by the end of this year, officials project a sharp rise in travel demand, warning that current reliance on road transport poses a significant risk of congestion.
A direct metro link between Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Long Thanh Airport is viewed as a high-capacity solution to ease pressure on the region’s road infrastructure. The project is also expected to drive urban and service development in line with transit-oriented planning.
To accelerate the timeline, the proposal requests special mechanisms. These include selecting investors under exceptional circumstances and allowing direct contractor appointments for the survey, design, construction, supervision, and acceptance stages. Stakeholders would maintain flexibility in execution while bearing responsibility for quality, safety, and costs.
The project is also expected to adopt a parallel “design-and-build” approach, mobilizing experts, consultants, and legal support to ensure rapid feasibility.
Among other links to Long Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City is finalizing investment procedures for a Thu Thiem – Long Thanh metro line, with construction expected to begin in June 2026.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam has proposed a phased transition of international flights from HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat airport to Long Thanh starting later this year to establish the new facility as a global aviation hub.
During the initial phase, which runs through March 2027, all long-haul international flights will move to Long Thanh, accounting for 19% of the regional market. From March 2027 through 2030, this shift will accelerate to cover over 90% of international traffic, leaving only short-haul routes under 1,000 kilometers operating out of Tan Son Nhat.
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