Ho Chi Minh City Taps Chinese Builder for Ambitious Metro Expansion

Foreign infrastructure investors are showing heightened interest in Ho Chi Minh City’s ambitious metro development strategy, as Vietnam's southern economic hub accelerates plans to expand its urban rail network over the next decade.

On Friday, the city's Department of Construction signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China's Pacific Construction Group to explore cooperation in infrastructure development, including urban railway projects. Under the agreement, both parties will study planning frameworks, technical standards, technology transfer, workforce training, and investment opportunities for infrastructure initiatives.

The department will provide information and coordinate exchanges to help the company evaluate its potential participation. In turn, the Chinese group will research planning requirements, propose technical and financing solutions, and explore suitable investment models.

City officials stated that the cooperation could help accelerate infrastructure development, particularly the metro projects that are a key priority for easing traffic congestion and supporting long-term economic growth. Pacific Construction Group is a private infrastructure developer involved in the investment, construction, operation, and management of transport and public works, and has been listed among the world's largest corporations for several years.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Pacific Construction Group founder Yan Jiehe described Ho Chi Minh City as a market with “significant infrastructure development potential.” He added that the company was interested in participating through an integrated model that combines investment, construction, operation, and maintenance. According to the company, this approach helps ensure construction quality throughout a project's lifecycle while improving operational efficiency.

The agreement arrives as Vietnam’s largest city seeks additional capital, technology, and expertise for one of the country's most ambitious urban transport programmes. The interest from Pacific Construction Group is not an isolated case. Guangzhou Metro Group has also established a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City to coordinate consulting, design, and construction activities for potential urban railway projects in Vietnam.

This growing interest from foreign firms reflects the scale of the city's expansion plans. Following the launch of Metro Line No. 1, connecting Bến Thành Market and Suối Tiên in late 2024, authorities aim to complete over 200 kilometres of urban rail lines by 2030.

While the latest MoU does not include specific investment commitments, it signals growing international interest in participating in the city's infrastructure transformation as demand for modern urban transport continues to rise.