Policy on change and investment of infrastructure of Ho Chi Minh City and the satellite provinces

Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces: Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, Ba Ria – Vung Tau of the southern key economic region are now urban areas focused on investment and development by the Government of Vietnam; make a target to become the most dynamic economic region in the country with the population of this urban area expected to reach 20-22 million people by 2020, the proportion of the urban population is expected to be about 77% of the total population.

In order to meet the needs of socio-economic development, contribute to the urban environment landscape and improve the quality of life for the people, the Government of Vietnam has set out policies on change and investment of infrastructure of Ho Chi Minh City and satellite provinces in the period 2020-2030.

1. Objectives:

• Developing a modern and synchronous transport infrastructure system;
• Reduce traffic congestion, reduce traffic accidents;
• Have high connectivity, while at the same time having regional, inter-regional and local connectivity;
• Have links between modes of transport, which will create a smooth and convenient transportation network.

2. Some important infrastructure investment projects:

2.1. Ring Road No. 3:

Be an urban expressway project for vehicles with a speed of 100 km/h, with a total length of nearly 97.7 km, passing through the territory of 08 districts in 04 provinces and cities: Ho Chi Minh City (District 9, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon and Binh Chanh); Dong Nai Province (Nhon Trach); Binh Duong province (Di An, Thuan An); Long An Province (Ben Luc). [1]

Objectives: Connecting regions, connecting industrial parks and urban areas of the southern key economic region; settling cargo transportation, reducing pressure on inner-city routes, improving circulation through radial road junctions, promoting socio-economic development of the whole region.
Project status: Under construction.

According to the progress approved by the Prime Minister on September 28, 2011, the section of Ring Road No. 3 going through the provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, Ho Chi Minh City will be completed before 2020, but up to now, only 16.3 km of the section passing through Binh Duong province is completed (accounting for 17.92%). Meanwhile, the remaining 3 sections, including the Tan Van – Nhon Trach (Dong Nai), is 34.3km long; Binh Chuan (Binh Duong) – Highway 22 (HCMC) is 17.5km long; 29.2km long section of national highway 22 – Ben Luc (Long An) has not been constructed yet.

2.2. Ring Road No. 4:

Be an urban expressway project for vehicles with a speed of 100 km/h with a total length of 197.6 km, passing through 12 districts in 05 provinces and cities: Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province (Tan Cang); Dong Nai province (Long Thanh, Trang Bom and Vinh Cuu); Binh Duong province (Tan Uyen and Ben Cat); Ho Chi Minh City (Cu Chi and Nha Be); Long An province (Duc Hoa, Ben Luc, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc). [2]

Objectives: to clear the traffic flow from the southwestern region, reduce the load and limit traffic congestion on the inner-city roads of Ho Chi Minh City; creating favorable conditions to connect provinces in the southern key economic region, connecting the Mekong Delta region with the Southeast region with the Hiep Phuoc port area, Long An port, contributing to promoting traffic goods, facilitating the development of port services.
Project status: Under construction.

2.3. Urban railway:

Be a project system of roads including 8 urban railway lines with a total length of 169 km, 1 tram line 12.8 km and 2 single-track lines 43.7 km long. [3]

08 urban railway lines include:

• Route 1: Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien;
• Route 2: Northwest Urban (Cu Chi) – Highway 22 – Tay Ninh Bus Station – Truong Chinh – (branch to Tham Luong Depot) – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Pham Hong Thai – Le Lai – Ben Thanh – Thu Thiem;
• Route 3a: Ben Thanh – Pham Ngu Lao – Cong Hoa 6-way crossroads – Hung Vuong – Hong Bang – Kinh Duong Vuong – Tan Kien Depot – Tan Kien station;
• Route 3b: Cong Hoa 6-way crossroad – Nguyen Thi Minh Khai – Xo Viet Nghe Tinh – Highway 13 – Hiep Binh Phuoc;
• Route 4: Thanh Xuan – Ha Huy Giap – Nguyen Oanh – Nguyen Kiem – Phan Dinh Phung – Hai Ba Trung – Ben Thanh – Nguyen Thai Hoc – Don Dan – Nguyen Huu Tho – Hiep Phuoc Urban Area;
• Route 4b: Gia Dinh Park Station (Line 4) – Nguyen Thai Son – Hong Ha – Tan Son Nhat International Airport – Truong Son – Hoang Van Thu Park – Lang Cha Ca Station (Line 5);
• Route 5: New Giuoc bus station – Highway 50 – Tung Thien Vuong – Phu Dong Thien Vuong – Ly Thuong Kiet – Hoang Van Thu – Phan Dang Luu – Bach Dang – Dien Bien Phu – Saigon bridge;
• Route 6: Ba Queo – Au Co – Luy Ban Bich – Tan Hoa Dong – Phu Lam Roundabout.

Project status: Under construction, expected to run the whole Route No. 1 by the end of 2021 and commercial operation from 2022.

2.4. Can Gio Bridge and Cat Lai Bridge:

Can Gio Bridge Project is an investment project to build a bridge over Soai Rap river, connecting the two districts of Nha Be and Can Gio in Ho Chi Minh City.

Objective: to replace Binh Khanh ferry, connect the southern city area with Can Gio district, meet the traffic demand in the area and facilitate the promotion and development of the project of sea reclamation and urban tourism. Can Gio.

Cat Lai Bridge Project is an investment project to build a bridge over Dong Nai River, connecting District 2, Ho Chi Minh City with Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province.

Objective: to replace and alleviate traffic congestion at Cat Lai ferry and the development of Nhon Trach district will develop rapidly.
Project status: on-going, expected to be completed by 2025

2.5. Long Thanh airport:

Long Thanh airport project is an investment project to build an international airport in Long Thanh district, Dong Nai province, about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City; There are 4 large and modern terminals with a total capacity of serving 100 million passengers/year. [4]

Objective: To take care of 80% of the total number of international passengers including transit passengers on international flights and 20% domestic passengers, to reduce congestion at Tan Son Nhat Airport; carry out the transit function in Southeast Asia, able to compete with major airports in the world, can receive A380-800 or equivalent aircraft, with a capacity of 100 million passengers/year and 5 million tons of goods/year.

Project status: Expected to complete and put into operation phase 1 from 2025.

———————————————————————
[1] Decision No. 1697/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated September 28, 2011 approving the detailed planning of Ring Road 3 – Ho Chi Minh City
[2] Decision No. 1698 / QD-TTG of the Prime Minister dated September 28, 2011 approving the detailed planning of Ring Road 4 – Ho Chi Minh City
[3] Decision No. 568 / QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated April 8, 2013: Approving the adjustment of transportation development planning of Ho Chi Minh City to 2020 and vision after 2020
[4] Decision No. 909 / QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated June 14, 2011