The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has issued a document requesting the Ministry of Planning and Investment consider proposals relating to the construction of the Ben Thanh-Tan Kien metro line No. 3A as part of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Construction Project, with plans set to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.

An aerial image of metro line No. 3A 

The metro line under discussion is one of the arterial railway lines which is of great significance to the overall establishment and construction of a public transport system in the southern city.

Once the project is completed, the line will directly connect with the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line 1 and will serve to create a modern public transport corridor that links areas in the city’s northeast and west.

Moreover, the overall aim of the plan is to significantly contribute to solving the heavy traffic congestion that regularly hits the southern metropolis, mitigating the effects of environmental pollution, and developing a modern transportation system that is sustainable in the future.

The Urban Railway Management Board believe that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be able to provide research and consultancy throughout efforts to improve metro line 3A.

According to the JICA, the project runs for a total length of 20 km and passes through eight different districts whilst featuring 18 stations with a total estimated investment of roughly VND68,000 billion.

Building work on the line is expected to be divided into two phases, with the first phase to take place from 2025 to 2031, with the second phase occurring from 2028 to 2034.