HCMC’s first metro line officially inaugurated
VGP - Ho Chi Minh City officially inaugurated its first metro line (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) on March 9 after two months of commercial operation.
The inauguration cereomony of Ho Chi Minh's metro line No.1, March 9, 2025
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Chairman of the Municipal People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc said that the inauguration represents a significant leap forward for public transportation in the southern metropolis.
It comes at a meaningful time, as the city and the entire nation are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Reunification Day.
He expected that the metro line would meet the growing travel demands of local residents and lay an important foundation for the city to build the 510km metro network in a bid to serve for 10 million-people population.
Japan’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miyaji Takuma, said that metro line symbolizes the close cooperation in the railway sector between Viet Nam and Japan and presents great significance in further developing collaboration between the two countries.
During the construction process, Japanese enterprises participated in building and providing locomotives, carriages, and signaling systems for the metro line. In the coming time, Japan will continue to support the operation and management of metro line No. 1 by sharing knowledge and experience and enhancing cooperation with Viet Nam to promote the development of Ho Chi Minh City's railway system.
The metro is funded by Japanese ODA loan as a token of friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan
Miyazaki Katsura, executive senior vice president of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said: "It has taken 17 years from the start of construction to reaching this significant milestone, which is supported by Japanese ODA and expertise."
