Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City launches first metro line after years of delays: Video
Thousands of commuters in Ho Chi Minh City boarded the city’s first-ever metro line on Sunday, December 22—a memorable day for Vietnam’s bustling business hub after nearly two decades of delays.
Long queues formed at every station along the $1.7 billion line, which spans almost 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the city centre. The launch drew a diverse crowd, including women in traditional "ao dai" dresses, soldiers in uniform, and families with young children, eager to experience the new transit system, as reported by AFP.
“I know it’s late, but I still feel so honoured and proud to be among the first on this metro,” said Nguyen Nhu Huyen, an office worker who took a selfie inside a crowded train car. “Our city is now on par with other big cities of the world,” she added.
Approved in 2007 with an initial budget of $668 million, the metro project relied heavily on Japanese government loans. Construction began in 2012, with an original target completion date of 2017. However, delays stemming from funding issues, technical challenges, personnel shortages, and the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the timeline back significantly.
As delays mounted, the city of nine million people saw its streets become increasingly clogged with cars and motorbikes, leading to severe congestion and pollution.
Deputy Mayor Bui Xuan Cuong acknowledged the challenges, stating, “The metro meets the growing travel needs of residents and contributes to reducing traffic congestion and environmental pollution.” He admitted that completing the project required overcoming “countless hurdles.”
State media attributed the delays to "slow capital disbursement, unexpected technical problems, personnel difficulties, and the COVID-19 pandemic."
Professor Vu Minh Hoang of Fulbright University Vietnam called the delays and cost overruns "frustrating" but acknowledged the metro’s significance. He told AFP, “It is still a historic achievement for the city's urban development.” He added that the lessons learnt could streamline future metro projects.
However, with just 14 stations on the line, Hoang warned that its immediate impact on traffic congestion would be limited.
For some, the metro’s opening was deeply symbolic. Vu Thanh, an 84-year-old war veteran, reflected on his contrasting experiences underground.
“It feels so different from the underground experience I had years ago during the war,” he said, referencing his time in the Cu Chi tunnels during the Vietnam War. “It’s so bright and nice here. Finally, we made it!”
