The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just submitted a report to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council on deciding on the policy of changing the purpose of using forests for other purposes to implement the Ben Thanh - Can Gio Metro project.
The submission is expected to be considered and approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council at the 5th session of the 11th Ho Chi Minh City People's Council (specialized session), taking place from September 21-22.
According to the submission, the total area of forest and non-forestry land located in the Ben Thanh - Can Gio Metro project area is 4.667 ha. Of which, the area of land with forest is 4.5745 ha, and land without forest is 0.0925 ha.
Out of 4,5745 hectares of forest, there are 1.4056 hectares of mangrove natural forest and 3.1689 hectares of mangrove planted timber forest.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Ben Thanh - Can Gio Metro is a transport project belonging to the group of urgent projects for socio-economic development.
Therefore, the project meets the criteria for changing the purpose of using natural forests to other purposes as prescribed in point d, clause 2, Article 41a, Decree No. 156/2018/ND-CP, amended and supplemented in Decree No. 42/2026/ND-CP dated January 26, 2026 of the Government.
Regarding the target for using protection forest land, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee cited Decision No. 1177/QD-TTg dated June 30, 2026 of the Prime Minister on adjusting the National Land Use Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050.
Accordingly, the target for protection forest land in the adjustment of the National Land Use Plan to 2030 allocated to Ho Chi Minh City is 44,373 ha.
Meanwhile, according to the results of land inventory and map compilation of land use status in 2024, the area of protection forest land in Ho Chi Minh City is 49,901 ha.
Thus, compared to the target for protection forest land allocated to 2030, the area of protection forest land in Ho Chi Minh City in the period 2025 - 2030 must decrease by about 5,528 ha.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assessed that with the scale of changing the purpose of using protection forest land to implement the project being 4.667 ha, the target of changing the purpose of using protection forest land for the project is guaranteed at the present time.
In addition to changing the purpose of forest use, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said that the investor has committed to fulfilling the obligation to plant replacement forests for the Ben Thanh - Can Gio Metro project according to regulations.
Based on the above grounds, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assessed that the project dossier had sufficient grounds and conditions and proposed that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council consider and decide on the policy of changing the purpose of forest use to other purposes to implement the Ben Thanh - Can Gio Metro project.
The proposed area for purpose conversion is 4,5745 ha of protection forest, including 1.4056 ha of mangrove natural forest and 3.1689 ha of mangrove planted forest.
The Ben Thanh - Can Gio Metro project was started on December 19, 2025 under the BOO (build - own - operate) contract form, with a total investment of more than 102,000 billion VND arranged by the investor.
The cost of compensation, support and resettlement alone is about 9,834 billion VND, paid by the Ho Chi Minh City budget.
Ben Thanh - Can Gio Metro is expected to be completed in 2028, shortening the travel time from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio to about 13 minutes.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the project aims to form a large-volume, high-speed transportation method connecting the city center with Can Gio; reduce congestion, shorten travel time and increase connectivity.
The metro line is also expected to create momentum for socio-economic development, promote Can Gio urban area and strengthen regional links in the Southeast region.
