Ho Chi Minh City Proposes Rezoning 4.6 Hectares of Protected Forest for Metro Construction

Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee has proposed rezoning approximately 4.6 hectares of protected forest for the construction of the Ben Thanh-Can Gio metro line. This proposal is part of the investment project approved on December 5, 2025, with VinSpeed Corporation as the investor. The forest area targeted for rezoning is located in An Thoi Dong and Can Gio communes. Specifically, 4.57 hectares are forest land, comprising about 1.4 hectares of natural mangrove forest and 3.16 hectares of planted mangrove forest. The metro line, approximately 54 kilometers long, will connect the Ben Thanh area to the Can Gio reclaimed land urban area. It aims to enhance large-volume transportation capacity between the city center and Can Gio. The initial phase includes two stations, Ben Thanh and Can Gio, with a planned maximum speed of 350 km/h. The total investment is estimated at over 102.43 trillion VND (approximately $4 billion USD), excluding land clearance costs of nearly 13 trillion VND (approximately $500 million USD) to be covered by the city budget. Completion is slated for 2028. City authorities assess the project as crucial for socio-economic development and compliant with regulations for rezoning natural forest land. The route is also aligned with the city's development plans for 2021-2030 and up to 2040. VinSpeed Corporation has submitted commitments for compensatory afforestation, an environmental impact assessment report, and a forest status report. The People's Committee is requesting the approval of the People's Council for the rezoning of protected forest land. Information Source: VnExpress