Ho Chi Minh City pushes metro expansion and real‑estate deposit reforms
The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority of Urban Railways is conducting a public consultation on a revised 35.1 km metro line linking Thu Dau Mot in Bình Dương to the Tao Đàn station in the city centre. The plan, which adds new elevated and underground stations and adjusts the route to run partly along Ngô Chí Quốc Road, targets construction start by the end of 2026 with completion slated for 2030.
The Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA) has submitted draft amendments to the Real Estate Business Law, proposing that developers be allowed to collect a deposit of up to 5 % of the property price once a project secures investment approval, land‑use rights and a basic design, rather than waiting for full business‑licence clearance. HoREA argues the change would ease developers’ cash flow and enable early market testing, while noting that the limited deposit size aims to limit buyer risk.
In parallel, the city’s Trade and Investment Promotion Center outlined a six‑month strategy to accelerate approved projects, ease land‑access and financing constraints, and attract strategic investors with strong technology and finance capabilities. The centre also highlighted ongoing concerns about construction firms such as Công ty TNHH Xây dựng Thương mại Dịch vụ Chí Nam, which has won several billion‑dong contracts in quick succession, raising questions about its staffing capacity and project scheduling.