The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just submitted to the Prime Minister the Project to adjust the general planning of Ho Chi Minh City to 2040, with a vision to 2060, in which it is determined to build 3 new rapid bus routes (BRT) to enhance connectivity and develop public transport in the area.
The 3 BRT routes are planned to include: Tan Kien (Binh Chanh) - Phu Long bridge (District 12), Nhi Binh (Hoc Mon) - Vinh Loc (Binh Chanh) and the central route of Ho Chi Minh City - Can Gio.
The planning project also mentioned an alternative plan when transportation demand exceeds the capacity of the BRT route by means of transport with higher capacity such as urban railways, creating a diverse, flexible and sustainable transport network.
Previously, according to Decision No. 568/QD-TTg approving the adjustment of the planning for transport development in Ho Chi Minh City until 2020 and vision after 2020, the city will build BRT routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
In fact, of the 6 planned BRT routes, only route 1 with a length of 26 km was approved in 2013, with a total investment of nearly 156 million USD.
This route runs along the Vo Van Kiet - Mai Chi Tho Avenue corridor, connecting the districts: Binh Chanh, Binh Tan, District 8, District 6, District 1, Thu Duc City.
Although approved in 2013 with a total investment of nearly 156 million USD, BRT No. 1 project has been delayed many times due to concerns about operational efficiency and the number of customers not meeting the forecast.
In addition, the lack of synchronization in the development of bus routes for buses, public transport infrastructure and ineffective control of private vehicles also affect the operation of express buses.
In 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee officially agreed to stop implementing the BRT No. 1 project at the request of the World Bank (WB).
The plan also proposes to develop priority bus routes operating on main roads with large crossings, with priority painted lines and traffic lights to reduce travel time during rush hour, while effectively connecting with the metro and BRT systems.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is operating 138 bus routes with a total of more than 2,200 vehicles, including 168 electric buses and 528 vehicles using compressed natural gas (CNG).
In the 2025 - 2030 period, the city plans to open 72 new bus routes, bringing the total number of routes to 210, and gradually switching to using 100% electric and green energy buses.
