The Bay Hien Intersection, where HCMC's second metro line will start, is seen from above, July, 2020. (Photo: VnExpress)

The Ben Thanh – Tham Luong Metro Line will run 11 kilometers between Districts 1 and 12. Its cost has ballooned to 2 billion USD from the original estimate of 1.1 billion USD.

Three international development banks, ADB, KfW and EIB, are funding the project with nearly 1.6 billion USD, and Vietnam will raise remaining sum as counterpart funds.

The route is one of eight metro lines planned in the city with a combined length of 220 kilometers and a price tag of nearly 25 billion USD.

The country’s biggest city, with a population of 13 million, has been struggling with traffic congestion for years. The number of personal vehicles has exploded while public transport is woefully underdeveloped.