Dong Nai adds new railway lines to its master plan

Alongside the road system currently under construction, Dong Nai Province has been accelerating investment efforts and updating its master plan to include additional railway lines, aiming to strengthen regional connectivity and support long-term urban development.

Dong Nai province is accelerating investment in the project to extend the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to the province's administrative center and Long Thanh Airport. Photo: Collaborator

The railway system is seen as the "backbone" of the transport infrastructure network, meeting growing demand for public transport while laying the groundwork for the province to develop TOD urban models, urban development centered on public transport.

Accelerating the construction of 2 metro lines

Under the Dong Nai Provincial Planning for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050 (Dong Nai Provincial Planning), the province will coordinate with Central ministries and agencies to implement key national and regional railway projects. These include upgrading the North–South railway, constructing new lines such as Bien Hoa–Vung Tau and Trang Bom–Hoa Hung, and studying the development of the North–South high-speed railway passing through the province. Additional proposals include railway links connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Loc Ninh and routes extending to the Central Highlands.

At the same time, Dong Nai is prioritizing procedures for urban railway (metro) projects, notably the extension of the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line to the provincial administrative center and Long Thanh International Airport (airport). The province is also working with Ho Chi Minh City to develop the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh metro line.

Among the two aforementioned projects, the Project to extend the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro to the provincial administrative center and Long Thanh Airport has been agreed upon by Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City to assign the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee as the competent authority to implement the investment project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) method. Currently, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee has assigned a consortium of investors to prepare the project proposal dossier for a total line length of approximately 41.4km within Dong Nai province. The investor is currently preparing the pre-feasibility study report for the project.

Previously, the project was included in the appendix of the National Assembly's Resolution No. 188/2025/QH15, which outlines special mechanisms for developing Ho Chi Minh City’s urban railway network.

In March 2026, the Prime Minister agreed in principle to implement the project to extend the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line to the administrative center of Dong Nai province and to Long Thanh Airport, under urgent conditions, as proposed by the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee.

According to Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Ha, the province is expediting procedures to begin construction of the project to extend the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to the administrative center of Dong Nai province and Long Thanh Airport by 2026.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is also targeting a 2026 groundbreaking for the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh metro line.

Proposal for two new railway lines

According to the Dong Nai Provincial Planning, 10 railway lines are planned for construction in the province. Of these, 7 lines have been approved in Decision No. 586/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, dated July 3, 2024, approving the former Dong Nai Provincial Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. One national railway line transferred to the locality is the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh metro line. In the latest adjustment of the Dong Nai Provincial Planning following the merger, two additional railway lines have been proposed: the Long Thanh Airport–Thu Dau Mot metro line and the Bien Hoa–Dong Xoai–Hoa Lu intra-provincial railway.

The metro extension from Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien to Dong Nai’s administrative center and Long Thanh Airport has a total line length of 41.4 km within Dong Nai province, consisting of three main sections, with an estimated investment exceeding VND 60 trillion. The line is designed for a maximum speed of 120 km/h (90 km/h in tunnels) and an operational speed of up to 110 km/h (80 km/h in tunnels).

The proposed Long Thanh Airport–Thu Dau Mot metro line aims to enhance connectivity between Long Thanh Airport and Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, the Bien Hoa–Dong Xoai–Hoa Lu railway is intended to strengthen intra-provincial links, serving both passenger and freight transport.

Earlier, at a scientific workshop in September 2025 on adjustments to the Dong Nai Provincial Planning, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Quang Phu, Vice Rector of the University of Transport in Ho Chi Minh City, suggested adding a railway connecting Dong Xoai and Bien Hoa. This line would integrate with existing metro lines in the provincial master plan to connect with Long Thanh Airport and Ho Chi Minh City, thereby meeting increasing passenger transport demand within Dong Nai.

By Pham Tung – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho