The Bangkok Mass Transit System began with the launch of two BTS Skytrain lines in 1999. There are now 10 lines operating, with more lines planned and under construction.

The urban rail transit system of Bangkok is comprised of a mixture of railway systems operated by three different companies. There is no singular brand like “Bangkok Metro” for the network, and there is no official map of a unified rail system.

The lack of a unified map is the least of Bangkok’s worries though, as the different operators have not agreed to provide integrated interchanges. There is also no unified ticket system yet, so you need to buy a different ticket for each railway.

While getting around Bangkok has become much easier with the introduction of these new lines, it’s useful to know about the different lines and ticketing systems. This guide lists all of the different railways that form the Bangkok Mass Transit System, including the official websites and maps from each company.

Index

BTS Skytrain (Bangkok Mass Transit System)
Light Green Line
Dark Green Line
Gold Line
BTS Skytrain Map
BTS Skytrain tickets
MRT
Blue Line
Purple Line
Yellow Line
Pink Line
MRT Map
MRT Tickets
SRT Red Lines
SRT Dark Red Line
SRT Light Red Line
SRT Red Lines Tickets
Airport Rail Link (ARL)
Airport Rail Link Tickets
Alternative Bangkok Mass Transit System Maps
Future Lines

BTS Skytrain (Bangkok Mass Transit System)

Operator: Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited.
Official website: bts.co.th.

The BTS Skytrain was the first urban rail transit system in Bangkok, and it’s most commonly referred to as the BTS or Skytrain. There are two lines which both opened in 1999:

Sukhumvit line (Light Green Line)

The Sukhumvit line (Light Green Line) takes its name from the road that it runs on its East-West axis.

Silom line (Dark Green Line)

The Silom line is connected to the Sukhumvit Line at Siam, where there is a cross-platform interchange.

[Siam BTS Skytrain Station.]

Gold Line

The Gold Line is an automated people mover that was built to connect the Skytrain system to the Icon Siam development.

[Photo by Greg Jorgensen for Future Southeast Asia.]

BTS Skytrain Map

[View full size. Map via bts.co.th.]

The official BTS Skytrain map shows the two green BTS lines most prominently, with the the other systems represented with smaller lines.

BTS Skytrain Tickets

Single BTS tickets can be bought at the station, or you can buy the Rabbit stored value card. The Rabbit card can also be used in selected shops around Bangkok.

[Rabbitpay at a store in Bangkok.]

MRT

Operator: Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM).
Official Website: mrta.co.th.

The MRT (Metropolitan Rapid Transit) is a mass rapid transit system with 3 lines.

Blue Line

The Blue Line opened in 2004 and there are clumsy interchanges with the two BTS Green Lines.

Purple Line

The Purple Line opened in 2016, and there is a southern extension that is under construction.

[MRT Purple Line at Bang Son.]

Yellow Line

The Yellow Line is a straddle-beam monorail. The Yellow Line partially opened for trial runs on 3 June 2023 and it officially opened on 19 June 2023.

Here is a review of the Yellow Line monorail.

Pink Line

The MRT Pink Line is an elevated monorail train line in the north of Bangkok and Nonthaburi Province. The monorail line is 34.5 kilometres long and has 30 stations. The line opened on 21 November 2023 (free public trial operation) and it officially opened on 18 December 2023.

MRT Map

[View full size. Map via metro.bemplc.co.th.]

The online MRT map only shows the two MRT lines, with lines from other operators greyed out. The same map can be seen at MRT stations, including lines from the other operators.

[View full size map.]

This map shows lines from all operators equally (unlike the BTS map which makes their lines bigger on the map). The map shown at MRT stations also has the future lines covered in grey stickers.

MRT Tickets

[MRT token.]

MRT tickets can be bought as single tokens at the station, and there is also a stored value card.
(Check website metro.bemplc.co.th/Ticket-Token?ty=3&lang=en.)

SRT Red Lines

[View full size. Map via srtet.co.th.]

Official Website: srtet.co.th

The SRT Red Lines are two commuter lines (SRT Dark Red Line and SRT Light Red Line) that are operated by the State Railway of Thailand.

This is a commuter railway that serves the neighbouring provinces that form the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The lines will be extended through Bangkok in the future, opening up more rail alternatives for Bangkok’s urban transit system.

[SRT Dark Red Line at Lak Si.]

SRT Dark Red Line

The Dark Red Line runs from Bang Sue to Rangsit. This line goes to Don Mueang Station, which is the train to Don Muang International Airport.

[Walkway to Don Muang International Airport.]

SRT Light Red Line

The Light Red Line runs from Bang Sue to Taling Chan.

SRT Red Lines Tickets

Tickets for the Red Lines are single tokens. Like the BTS and MRT, this is a separate ticketing system. If you are transferring from an SRT line to a BTS or MRT line, you need to get a new ticket.

Airport Rail Link (ARL)

[View full size.]

Owner: State Railway of Thailand.
Official Website: 202.139.212.153/index.php.

The Airport Rail Link (ARL) runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai station. The line initially ran express and commuter services, with the express service also stopping at Makkasan Station. The express service is currently suspended, so the line has been reduced to a stopping-all-stations service.

[Bangkok Airport Rail Link.]

Makkasan Station was purpose-built as a remote airport terminal, where you could check in and have your bags checked in as well. The check-in service at Makkasan was eventually closed due to low passenger numbers. This line will eventually be replaced by the 3 airports rail link.

[Makkasan Station.]

Airport Rail Link Tickets

The Airport Rail Link uses tokens (like the Red Lines) and you cannot interchange with the BTS or MRT.

Alternative Bangkok Mass Transit System Maps

The BTS and MRT have produced separate maps that have their own style. There are some independent maps that show all of the lines, with the most useful map from Wikipedia.

[View full size. Map by Zeddlex via Wikimedia Commons.]

ExploreMetro shows the Bangkok Mass Transit System on a traditional metro-style map. The full map can be viewed on the website, or via their app.

[Bangkok Mass Transit System by ExploreMetro.]

This map by LivingPop has an integrated map that shows all lines as one system.

[View full size.]

UrbanRail.Net make maps from around the world in their own distinct standardised style.

Here is a Japanese-style subway map of the Bangkok mass transit system. This map by https://runbkk.net breaks the unwritten rule of metro mapping of using straight lines and 45-degree angles. Instead, this map has gone with jagged lines as needed, and the Japanese/English language makes it look like a system from somewhere in Japan. This map has not been updated for the Yellow Line and Pink Line

[View full size.]

Another independent map is from Transit Bangkok. This map is now out of date, but I have listed it here as a reference.

[View full size. Map by Transit Bangkok.]

Future Lines

This guide is for current travel in Bangkok, so for simplicity and clarity, I have kept the future lines off this guide. If you are interested in the future lines you can visit the future Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit System Guide at Future Southeast Asia.. The future map is at M-MAP 2.

Read more urban rail transit articles.

India is slowly but surely building out urban transit systems in major cities across the country. There is an updated list of current and proposed metro systems here, but I wanted to see a list of metro maps, so I made this list.

This page features metro systems, and I will add trams and monorails later. Note that there is so much construction happening that the list will go out of date quickly. I will update it periodically when a new line or system is launched.

[Train at MG Road, Bangalore.]

Cities in India with metro systems

Index

Map of cities in India with metro systems
Delhi / National Capital Region (NCR)
Delhi
Gurgaon
Noida
Northern
Jaipur
Lucknow
Kanpur
Eastern
Kolkata
Western
Mumbai
Pune
Ahmedabad
Nagpur
South
Hyderabad
Bengaluru
Chennai
Kochi

Map of cities in India with metro systems

[Map of metro systems in India.]

Delhi / National Capital Region (NCR)

Delhi

Delhi Metro: delhimetrorail.com | Wikipedia

The official Delhi Metro map can be downloaded as a PDF. The website has a cleaner route finder map, though it’s not downloadable.

[Show full map.]

The Rapid Transit Map of Delhi at Wikimedia shows the lines correctly scaled overlaid on the road map. Note how the scale differs on each map. The subway map compresses the lines so they fit into a compact map, similar to how the London Underground map has station evenly spaced out

[Map by Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) via Wikimedia Commons. View full size.]

Gurgaon

Rapid Metro Gurgaon: delhimetrorail.com/rapid-metro | Wikipedia

Rapid Metro Gurgaon is a single line operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), and it connects to the Delhi system at Sikanderpur on the Yellow Line. This is represented on the Delhi metro map, and there is a map of the line on Wikimedia.

[Rapid Transit Map of Gurgaon via Wikimedia Commons. View full map.]

Noida

Noida Metro: nmrcnoida.com | Wikipedia

Noida Metro has 1 line, and the official map looks like they just took a screenshot of an online map and added extra details.

The official site also has a map of proposed lines.

[View full map.]

The line map from Wikimedia.

[Map by RaviC via Wikimedia Commons. Show full map.]

Northern

Jaipur

Jaipur Metro: transport.rajasthan.gov.in/jmrc | Wikipedia

Jaipur is known as Pink City, and the first line is the Pink Line. The planned second line will be the Orange Line. I will confidentially assume that this is the first time that pink and orange has been used as the first two colours for a metro system.

The official website appears to have gone offline, so the government transport ministry has the route map. This map shows the future lines as well.

[View full map.]

The map on Wikimedia hasn’t used the official line colours, but it has a pink background instead.

[Map by Johnxxx9 via Wikimedia Commons. View full map.]

Lucknow

Lucknow Metro: kochimetro.org | Wikipedia

The Lucknow Metro has one operating line, and the official map also shows the approved second line.

[View full map.]

Lucknow Metro on Wikimedia.

[Map by Wikiboy2364 (original) via Wikimedia Commons. View full size.]

Kanpur

Kanpur Metro: lmrcl.com | Wikipedia

Kanpur Metro route map.

[View full map.]

Eastern

Kolkata

[Esplanade Station Kolkata.]

Kolkata Metro: kmrc.in | Wikipedia

The Kolkata Metro is the oldest system in India, having opened its first line in 1984. The official map of the Kolkata Metro looks to be from around the same era. It is a busy map that is crammed with details.

[Show full map.]

The Wikimedia map shows current and future lines.

[Map by আফতাবুজ্জামান (মূল: ArnabSaha) via Wikimedia Commons. Show full map.]

Western

Mumbai

Mumbai Metro: mmrcl.com | Wikipedia

Mumbai has 3 operational lines, 8 under construction, 5 approved, and 1 proposed. I couldn’t find any map on the official site, and the government project page doesn’t have a map either.

I found the Maha Mumbai Metro Network Diagram map via Reddit, but it doesn’t show the original source.

[Show full map.]

Wiki usually has an updated current map, but I could only find an old map with 2 lines.

[Maps by Johnxxx9 via Wikimedia Commons. Show full map.]

There is a Wikimedia map that shows the future urban rail network combining the metro and regional railway. This map looks similar in colour and style to the New York City subway map.

[Mumbai Metropolitan Region Rail Map via Wikimedia Commons. Show full size.]

Pune

Pune Metro: punemetrorail.org | Wikipedia

Pune Metro has two lines operating, and a third line is planned. The first two lines are shown on the official route map.

[View full size.]

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad Metro: gujaratmetrorail.com | Wikipedia

The Ahmedabad Metro:is operated by Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited and it currently connects Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

[View full map.]

Wikimedia has a simplified subway-style map with the routes and the river straightened out.

[Map by Nizil Shah via Wikimedia Commons. View full map.]

Nagpur

Nagpur Metro: gujaratmetrorail.com | Wikipedia

The Nagpur Metro only has a Google Map for their route map.

The Nagpur Metro map via Wikimedia.

[Map by Arjuncm3 via Wikimedia Commons. View full map.]

South

Hyderabad

Hyderabad Metro: hmrl.co.in | Wikipedia

The official map of the Hyderabad Metro.

[Show full map.]

Bengaluru

Namma Metro: english.bmrc.co.in | Wikipedia

The official map of the Bangalore Metro, known as “Namma Metro”.

[Show full map.]

The Namma Metro map on Wikimedia.

[Map by Doc.aneesh via Wikimedia Commons. View full size.]

The full future map of the Namma Metro is also on Wikimedia.

[Map by Cpt Naveen via Wikimedia Commons. View full size.]

Chennai

Chennai Metro: chennaimetrorail.org | Wikipedia

The official map of the Chennai Metro.

[Show full map | PDF.]

The official site also provide a route map with the lines on a street map, which is something more metro websites should do.

[Show full map | PDF.]

The map on Wikimedia shows what the metro system might look like in 2026, and the lines look like the circles of the Tamil language.

[Map by PRASANNA RAMASWMAY via Wikimedia Commons. View full map.]

Kochi

Kochi Metro: kochimetro.org | Wikipedia

Kochi Metro has one line, and the official site has a map showing an integrated transport map.

[View full size.]

The Wikimedia map by saneef.com shows how the metro connects with the railway network.

[Map by Saneef Ansari via Wikimedia Commons. View full map.]

These are the official and unofficial subway maps of Japan, available as high-resolution images and PDF downloads.

After compiling a list of subway maps of Tokyo I was wondering about other subway maps of Japan. Like Tokyo though, there are official and unofficial maps that show metro systems combined with other transit lines.

Some cities have multiple railway operators, and regional railways also act as urban rail transit in some cities. There is also the blurred definition of metro/subway, and there are trams, light rails, and monorails that are also included on maps.

The Japan Subway Association has a list of subways in Japan, so that is a good base to begin.

I have included a map of Niigata, which doesn’t have a metro but has regional railways that acts like a transit system. I’ve also included the Okinawa Monorail, just so I can put Okinawa on the map. With that precedent, I should put tram lines here as well, though I might make that a separate post.

This is not a user guide for metro systems in Japan, as that is already comprehensively done at Wikipedia and other sites. What I wanted was to be able to see every subway map on one page. I’ve started with subway systems, but as I progressed into this project I realised I should cover all urban transit systems.

Cities in Japan with subway systems

Index

Map of cities in Japan with metro systems
Hokkaido
Sapporo
Honshu
Sendai
Niigata
Tokyo
Yokohama
Nagoya
Osaka
Kyoto
Kobe
Hiroshima
Kyushu
Fukuoka
Okinawa
Naha and Urasoe

Map of cities in Japan with metro systems

Map of urban rail systems in Japan.]

Hokkaido

Sapporo

View map at Sapporo transit maps.

Honshu

Sendai

View map at Sendai Subway map.

Niigata

View map at Niigata rail transit map.

Tokyo

The urban rail systems of Greater Tokyo consists of the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and several other railway operators. I have another article about Tokyo subway maps that lists the official and unofficial maps.

The most complex rail map of Tokyo is published by JR East.

[View full resolution map | PDF.]

Yokohama

View map at Yokohama Subway map.

Nagoya

View map at Nagoya Subway map.

Osaka

View map at Osaka transit maps.

Kyoto

View map at Kyoto Subway map/

Kobe

View map at Kobe Subway map.

Hiroshima

View map at Hiroshima transit maps.

Kyushu

Fukuoka

View map at https://urbanrailtransit.com/fukuoka-city-subway-map/

Okinawa

Naha and Urasoe

View map at https://urbanrailtransit.com/okinawa-urban-monorail-map/.

The Metro Manila urban rail transit system is comprised of two light rail lines, a mass rail transit line, and a commuter line.

There is no unified brand for the urban rail network (like “Manila Metro”) so it is usually referred to by the line type (LRT, MRT, or commuter rail).

This guide lists the official links of every operating line, and the best unofficial maps and resources.

Manila Mass Transit System

Metro Manila mass transit lines
LRT Line 1
LRT Line 2
MRT Line 3
PNR Metro Commuter Line
Tickets
Maps of Metro Manila mass transit system
Future Metro Manila mass transit lines

Metro Manila mass transit lines

LRT Line 1

Website: lrmc.ph.
Owner: Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).
Operator: Light Rail Manila Corporation.
Wikipedia: LRT Line 1 (Metro Manila).

The Light Rail Transit Line 1 consists of 20 stations and runs on 19.65 km of an elevated route. The line travels in a general north–south direction from Baclaran to Monumento, and then east–west from Monumento to Roosevelt.

[LRT1 at EDSA.]

LRT Line 2

Website: lrta.gov.ph.
Owner: Department of Transportation – Light Rail Transit Authority.
Operator: Light Rail Transit Authority.
Wikipedia: LRT Line 2.

The Light Rail Transit Line 2 is a rapid transit line running in an east-west direction along Radial Road 6 and a portion of Circumferential Road 1. The line is 17.6 km with 13 stations.

The line colour is purple, though some maps show it as blue. The route map on the website uses Google Maps.

[Route Map of LRT2 Manila .]

MRT Line 3

Official Website: dotrmrt3.gov.ph
News Website: mrt3.com
Owner: Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC).
Operator: Department of Transportation.
Wikipedia: LRT Line 3 (Metro Manila).

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 is a light rapid transit system line running in an orbital north-to-south route following the alignment of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The line is 16.9 km with 13 stations.

PNR Metro Commuter Line

Official Website: pnr.gov.ph.
Facebook: @officialpnrpage.
Owner: Government of the Philippines.
Operator: Department of Transportation.
Wikipedia: PNR Metro Commuter Line.

PNR Metro Commuter Line is a segment of the old PNR South Main Line. The Metro South Commuter section runs from Tutuban to Calamba station in Los Baños, Laguna.

[PNR Tutuban – Calamba. View full map at pnr.gov.ph.]

Tickets

Single-journey tickets can be bought at the station via a cashier or vending machine.

There is also a reloadable contactless smart card called beep, which can be used on LRT and MRT lines, some buses, and in selected shops in lieu of cash.

Manila mass transit system maps

The is no official map that shows all of the lines. Some stations show a map of the combined LRT and MRT lines.

[System map spotted at Quirino Station, LRT1.]

The maps that show the LRT, MRT, and PNR Commuter on one map are independent maps. I have listed all the known maps on this page.

I have made a map of all the stations on Google Maps.

[Map of the Manila urban rail transit system.]

As is often the case when there isn’t an official map, there is one at Wikimedia.

[Map by Laura Sun, via Wikimedia Commons.]

Another map via Wikimedia, though the line colours are wrong.

[Map by Jerome Sandilanico, via Wikimedia Commons.]

maps-manila-ph.com shows the three urban railways and commuter railway.

[View full map.]

maps-manila-ph.com also have a map of the mass transit railways shown on a street map.

[View full map.]

Bernardo Arellano III has made a metro-style map with Line 3 shown as a semi-circle. Here is the blog post about the making of the Greater Manila Transit Map, and another feature about the map.

[View full map on Flickr.]

UrbanRail.Net has an updated map with future lines already lightly drawn in anticipation of them being added.

[View full map.]

metrolinemap.com has plotted the LRT and MRT lines on OpenStreetMap.

[View map at Metro Line Map.]

urban-map.com has a map that can be viewed via their app.

[Download the full Manila Rail Map on Apple App Store & Android Google Play.]

Future Metro Manila mass transit lines

There are more lines that are planned and under construction. Read more about the future Manila rail system at Future Manila mass transit system.

The Dubai Metro is a rapid transit rail network in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There are currently two lines, with more lines planned in the future.

Index

Dubai Metro
Red Line
Green Line
Dubai Tram
Other lines
Palm Monorail
Dubai Metro maps
Links and resources

Dubai Metro

Website: rta.ae.

Trains of the Dubai Metro are fully automated and driverless, and the stations are air-conditioned with platform edge doors.

Red Line

The Red Line opened in September 2009, becoming the first urban transit line in the Arabian Peninsula.

[Red Line at Union Station.]

The main line is 52.1 kilometres in length, travelling from the airport to the Jebel Ali Freezone at the western end of Dubai. A branch line from Jebel Ali Station was built to connect the Expo 2020 site.

The Red Line is the world’s longest driverless single metro line.

Green Line

The Green Line is the second line of the Dubai Metro network, interchanging with the Red Line at Union and BurJuman. There are 20 stations on the 22.5 km line.

[Stadium station on the Green Line.]

Dubai Tram

Website: rta.ae.

In addition to the metro, there is a planned light rail system that will provide a feeder service to the metro. The Dubai Tram is the first light rail system in Dubai.

[Mina Seyahi tram stop.]

The Dubai Tram is a 14.5 km tramway from Dubai Marina to Palm Jumeirah and Al Sufouh. The route has stops near the DMCC and Sobha Realty stations of the Red Line. The tram route is shown on the official metro map, and the metro pass (nol card) can be used for the tram.

Other lines

Palm Monorail

Website: palmmonorail.com.

The Palm Monorail is a monorail that runs up the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, connecting the mainland to the top of the island group. The Palm Monorail is not part of the Dubai metro system, so metro cards can’t be used on this line. The monorail is priced like a theme park ride, so it can’t be considered as an urban rail transit.

There is a plan to extend the line to Dubai Internet City, so it is a shame that it’s not part of the metro system.

Dubai Metro maps

Dubai metro stations and tram stops plotted on a Google Map. Use this map when looking for hotels in Dubai near metro stations.

[Map of Dubai Metro.]

Metro & Tram stations and location map
“The below map showcases all the metro and tram stations that come under the full rail network, including Red line stations, Green line stations and Tram stations.”

Dubai Rail Network
Official metro map in the standard metro map design of straight lines and 45-degree angles. The map shows fare zones and some prominent landmarks with a background of a digitised geographic landscape. The monorail is included on this map for reference, but it is not part of the metro system.

[View full map or download PDF version.]

Links and resources

Sheikh Mohammed: Dubai Metro ridership reaches 2 billion – [23/04/23]
“Milestone crossed in less than 14 years since driverless train’s inauguration in 2009.”

Hanoi is a city of over 8 million people that is composed of 12 urban districts, 1 district-level town, and 17 rural districts. Most visitors – including myself – stay in the old quarter in Hoan Kiem district, and visit Ba Dinh District (the political and cultural heart of Vietnam). With the Hanoi Metro system being built, visitors in the future will have more options beyond these two core districts.

I’ve visited Hanoi numerous times, yet whenever I go I seem to be trapped inside the old quarter. Not that there’s anything wrong with that as it’s a fascinating place to wander around. I usually visit Hanoi on the way to somewhere else, so by the time I’ve revisited my favourite cafes and street food stands it’s time to move on.

On my most recent trip to Hanoi I made a report on the state of the metro. This gave me a chance to see what Hanoi is like outside the old quarter.

There are two lines under construction, both of which are far behind schedule. Like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi doesn’t have any form of metro system (though they both once had trams). I have been following the progress of the Hanoi Metro to see how it compares to the HCMC Metro.

The metro in Ho Chi Minh City should have been finished by now if it had gone to schedule. It’s now years overdue, but property developers have not been resting during this time. There are new apartment towers near the future stations, and vibrant neighbourhoods such as Thao Dien have formed in anticipation of the Thao Dien metro station.

The Hanoi metro will also have a transformative effect on districts outside of the old city, just as the BTS in Bangkok has transformed neighbourhoods near each station. Maybe in 10 years time there will be the equivalent of an Ari or Thonglor in Hanoi. These two neighbourhoods in Bangkok have been transformed by their proximity to the skytrain, and for travellers they are popular places for Airbnb rentals.

To get a feel for what is happening I went walking along the lines under construction, as well as the route of one of the future lines. Here is a map of the proposed lines provided by Hanoi Metro. To view a larger version, click here.

#Metro map of #Hanoi in 2030, vision to 2050 #Vietnam pic.twitter.com/D2ETNRD7v6

— Hanoi Metro (@HanoiMetro) January 4, 2018

And for reference I’ve mapped the places mentioned in this post.

[Map of future Hanoi metro stations.]

Starting with a line that isn’t under construction yet, I walked though some of the areas where Line 2 will go. Line 2 will be of most use for visitors as it will be a direct line from the airport to the old quarter. Construction of this line has been delayed for over a decade, with some of the delay being due to how to route the line under the old city. It appears that some of the major issues regarding the route in the old quarter have been resolved, so this might be the next line to start construction.

From the old quarter the line will go south to Hai Ba Trung district. I’ve been to Hanoi maybe 10 times and somehow I’ve never been here. Starting my walk from the main train station I found the Hanoi Central Circus. I love the modernist architecture, though it appears to be one of those old-school animal circuses.

From here I visited Union Park, which I can’t believe I’ve never visited before. The park has a big lake and lots of tree-lined walking paths. To the south of the park will be a station for the Line 2 metro. This is already a desirable area, so having such a useful metro line will make it one of the top places to live.

Continuing my walk around where Line 2 would go I ended up at the new Vincom Center in Dong Da district. Somewhere around here will be the Chua Boc station.

From here I left the path of Line 2 and headed towards Thai Ha station on the under-construction Line 2A. The station is near Thai Ha street, which could become a shopping hotspot in the future.

As there is no other metro in Vietnam I keep referring to the experience of Bangkok, which I have watched transform over the years. On Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok the small buildings near the stations have been gradually demolished to make way for apartment towers. Looking at these small buildings near Thai Ha station I wonder what this section will look like in 10 years.

The next station up is La Thanh. The buildings around the station are a jumble of old buildings with a streetscape that needs to be refurbished.

I had already reached my coffee limit for the day by the time I got to La Thanh, otherwise I would have gone to Twitterbeans Coffee for the name alone.

Line 2A terminates at Cat Linh, where it will junction with Line 3. The Pullman Hotel is on this corner, and once the construction mess has been cleared it will be interesting to see how this corner evolves.

I did a separate walk for Line 3 by getting a Grab bike to Chua Ha Station and walking back to Hanoi Station from there. Developers have already built out the area around this station.

The intersection at Cau Giay Station is nothing like you see in the old city. This is next to the Hanoi Zoo.

Walking between Cau Giay Station and Kim Ma Station I found a Japantown/Little Tokyo.

I stopped for a latte at Define – a Japanese specialty coffee cafe.

The area around Kim Ma Station is where you can see modern Hanoi taking shape. Here is the 267-metre tall Lotte Center Hanoi .

Continuing my walk between Kim Ma Station and Cat Linh Station I could see a glimmering building that was catching the afternoon light. The was the newly-opened Dolce Gold Hotel. The Dolce By Wyndham Hanoi Golden Lake is the world’s first gold-plated hotel. Not something I would have thought would be a first in Hanoi.

Near the gold hotel is the site of the half-finished Westin Hotel.

The station areas I visited on this trip are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the eventual metro network. I don’t know Hanoi well enough to be able to predict which area will rise as a result of the metro. Going by other cities experiences it will happen.

Readers who are familiar with Hanoi and its neighbourhoods might be wondering where is Tay Ho (West Lake) in this report. This area is a popular expat neighbourhood which could be referred to as “the Thao Dien of Hanoi” (or they might say Thao Dien is “the West Lake of Saigon”). Unfortunately for Tay Hoans there is no plan to put a metro along the east side of West lake.

I love visiting Hanoi, so hopefully I can record how the city changes over the years as the metro system expands.

Bangkok is slowly but surely building out its mass transit system to help ease its infamous traffic problems. In July 2019 the western extension of the MRT Blue Line opened, making it the first railway of any kind in the Bangkok old city area.

The extension is from Hua Lamphong (the main railway station), through Chinatown, Rattanakosin (the old city), and then under the river to the western side of Bangkok. The Blue Line has now been extended and is a circle line (or more like a lopsided b or q shape).

There are other lines under construction as well, and now the MRT are displaying maps of what the Bangkok metro system will look like with these lines. This map shows the lines under construction as greyed-out lines, and it doesn’t include proposed lines that haven’t started yet. It’s by no means Tokyo, but it’s heartening to see a comprehensive metropolitan railway system slowly filling out.

[MRT map showing current lines and lines under construction.]

During my last visit caught the metro from Sukhumvit to Chinatown to see the some of the new stations.

MRT Blue Line

For this trip I visited the three stations west of Hua Lamphong, which are of most use to visitors.

Wat Mangkon

Wat Mangkon is the first stop after Hua Lamphong and it is the new gateway for Chinatown. I love walking around this area, and usually I go to Hua Lamphong and then walk the rest of the way. Now the metro takes you right there.

[Charoen Krung Rd.]

I remarked on a previous visit to Chinatown that you should go before the metro opens. Sure enough this station appears to be a crowd favourite as it was mayhem when I visited. I went on a Sunday so it might have been a weekend crowd. There was also a high proportion of people taking selfies on the steps and other photogenic spots. Maybe it’s going to take a while for the novelty to wear off.

The station emerges at Charoen Krung Rd (next to Wat Mangkon). From here it’s less than 5 minutes walk to the heart of Chinatown at Yaowarat Road.

Sam Yot

Sam Yot is the first station inside the true old city area of Rattanakosin Island. The station has been disguised as a block of old shophouses similar to the style that you find in the old city. It still looks new, but once it gets a bit weather-worn it might blend in more.

I walked here from Chinatown so I didn’t see the platform. Inside the station it there was hardly anyone here compared to Chinatown.

There is not much in this area yet, so I wasn’t expecting too many people here. There are signs that it could become a revitalised area. Near the station is the Ong Ang Canal. This man-made canal forms the eastern boundary of the old city, and it’s what made Rattanakosin an island.

The Ong Ang Canal has been undergoing renovations, and the section near Sam Yot Station now has landscaped pedestrian plazas on either side. The residents along the canal were reportedly made to paint their houses to make it look more Instagrammable photogenic. I suspect there there will be more businesses opening up along here in the next few years.

The restored canal is near Bangkok’s Little India. It’s nothing like the Little India in Singapore, but here you can find some good cheap Indian eats. I’ve always though that they should make this area a Little India like Singapore, adding another interesting area to see in Bangkok.

Opposite Sam Yot Station is a is the newly refurbished Cacha Bed Heritage Hotel. This 100-year-old Victorian-style hotel is now a hostel/budget hotel, and now that the metro is open it’s in a prime position. There is not many places to stay in this area, so I will be watching the area with interest to see how it transforms.

Sanam Chai

From Sam Yot I continued my old town wandering through to Sanam Chai MRT. This station will be the most convenient for visitors as it is near Wat Po and the Grand Palace. If you are a tourist staying on Sukhumvit Road you can now get a direct metro to the most important sites in Bangkok.

Also near Sanam Chai is the flower market area, and there are some nice old buildings by another canal. I hadn’t been down here for a while so I was surprised to see how many cafes and restaurants are around here (and not just tourist cafes).

Out of all the stations this was the one I was most looking forward to seeing. The MRT had been showing photos of what the station would look like years before it opened. These sneak previews were great marketing as I knew I wanted to visit once it opened.

Sanam Chai is ornately decorated to reflect its connection to the royal institutions nearby. I was here late on Sunday afternoon and it was also busy.

Thoughts on the new MRT extension

I’ve been visiting Bangkok nearly every year since 2005 and this is the first inner city metro line I’ve seen open during that time. The old city stations look as good as there were promised to be, and I expect there will be more urban regeneration projects in the old city.

One thing that I wish they could have addressed is the ticketing system. The MRT uses token for single use and a stored value card usable only on the MRT network.

MRT Blue line opened in July 2004, and 2004 technology is ancient by now. Lining up for a single-use token seems so outdated. It would be an expensive operation to completely overhaul a ticketing system, so this is more wishful thinking. It would have been better to change it though while there was only one line. Now there are two lines, with two more under construction.

I kept thinking of my experience on the new Kaohsiung Metro, where you can just use your credit card via payWave if you can’t be bothered to wait in line at the ticket machine. Mobile apps and QR codes should be another option.

One thing that will at least make travel more convenient is the unified Bangkok transport card, known as the Mangmoom Card (Spider Card). As the BTS and MRT are separate private companies, they operate their own ticketing systems.

[Mangmoom Card.]

The Mangmoom Card will be able to be used on all forms of transport in Bangkok, similar to the Octopus Card in Hong Kong and the Pasmo and Suica Cards in Tokyo. The full rollout has been delayed for years, so every time I go back to Bangkok I always wonder if it is ready.

Future metro lines in Bangkok old city

With the Blue Line now operating in the old city, the dream of an expanded Bangkok metro system is looking more like a reality.

In addition to the Blue Line two more lines are planned for Rattanakosin. I’ve shown where these stations will be on this Google Map. I’ve just pinned stations related to the Old City.

Map of Bangkok Old City Metro Stations

To get a full picture view check out this Google Map of all of the proposed metro lines in Bangkok.

The Purple line

The Purple Line currently operates in the northwest of Bangkok, and it’s planned to be extended south though Rattanakosin.

For travellers who stay around the Khao San Road this will be a useful line as it will connect the Democracy Monument to the future Bang Sue grand central station. The Purple line will connect at Tao Poon station, which is about 15 minutes walk from Bang Sue, or change at Tao Poon for the Blue Line MRT to Bang Sue.

The Purple Line will also junction with Sam Yot on the Blue Line. Sam Yot was built in preparation for the Purple line extension, so it’s ready for this future connection.

[Sam Yot future purple line.]

Orange Line

The other line being planned is the MRT Orange Line. The eastern stage of the orange line is currently under construction, though it’s not known when the western extension will be begin.

If this line goes ahead then it will put Khao San Road on the metro grid. The Orange Line will have a stop at Sanam Luang, which is basically next door to Khao San Road. From there you will be able to go to Yommarat Railway Station, where you can transfer to the future railway that connects the two airports of Bangkok. The Orange Line will also junction with Ratchathewi on the BTS Sukhumvit Line, and from there it’s an easy enough walk to Siam Square.

When I look at future metro maps I look for future developments around each station. If the Orange Line goes ahead and junctions with the Purple Line at Democracy monument, then land around this area will be even more sought after. I don’t expect any tall buildings here as there will be height restrictions near royal monuments. There is redevelopment plans for this area. One of the high profile land clearing disputes in Bangkok has been in Fort Mahakan, not far from the democracy monument. There is a plan to turn this into a park, though it’s not clear where the residents will go.

My next Bangkok transport report will hopefully be the Bang Sue central station – due to open in 2021. Read more about mass transit systems.

Edit: I made this map in 2017, before there was a released metro map. The HCMC Metro opened in December 2024, and a revised map is shown at the stations. Here is the new Ho Chi Minh City urban rail network map.

Ho Chi Minh City Metro Map

[HCMC Metro Map (download full resolution image here.]

Out of all the megacities of Southeast Asia, Saigon is the only city without any form of urban rail transit. Even the traffic-dystopias of Jakarta and Manila have a few rail lines between them.

This will change when the first metro line in Saigon opens sometime after 2020 (sometimes being the operative word). In total there are 6 metro lines, 1 light rail, and 2 monorails planned.

When I was compiling information about proposed Southeast Asia railways I kept a separate file of Saigon metro news. It was interesting to see how far back the metro planning goes, and what is planned for the future. I found records dated from 2004, and another feasibility study that had a 2-line metro being completed in 2008 [http://www.gahanoi.com.vn/english-news/hcm-finishes-pre-feasibility-study-for-metro-construction-project].

There are some maps of the future metro which have since become outdated as the plans have changed. These maps also left out the tram and monorail lines.

I have created a new map of the proposed Ho Chi Minh City Metro which includes the light rail and monorail lines. Note that this map will no doubt go out of date as well once alignments and stations are adjusted, or new lines planned. I’ve dated the map at the bottom and will update the map as needed.

Official map

There is one official map at the People’s Committee of Hochiminh City Management Authority For Urban Railways (MAUR), under “Master plan of urban railways system”.

This is the construction and investment news site, so this is not a map for future transit users.

Below I have outlined the details of each line.

Line 1

As of 2017, Line 1 of the HCMC Metro is the only line under construction. There was a ground-breaking ceremony in 2008, but construction didn’t get underway until 2012. At that point, it was estimated that the line would be finished by 2017. Like most new metro systems, the first line is always delayed and over budget, so this was probably to be expected.

These old shops next to the future Rach Chiec metro station are sitting on a goldmine.

A post shared by James Clark (@nomadicnotes) on Nov 23, 2017 at 2:25am PST

Line 1 is now scheduled to be completed in 2020, and it will be extended by one stop to the new Mien Dong (Eastern) bus terminal.

[The new Mien Dong Bus Station and connected metro (image from Tuoi Tre News.]

On the map I have included two proposed extensions that have been submitted by neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong and Dong Nai. Alignment and station details are lacking for those extensions so the lines on the map are for general illustration.

Here is a summary of construction projects near Line 1 Ho Chi Minh City Metro.

Line 2

Line 2 is the second line (logically enough) to have begun construction. Begun in this instance was a ceremonial shovel event in 2012 to build an administration office. No progress has been made on the railway, and it was announced that work may not resume until 2020.

This line will go from Ben Thanh to the An Suong bus terminal. This is also known as the Tay Ninh bus terminal, which has lead some news reports to say that the metro is going all the way to Tay Ninh (100 km from Saigon). Line 2 is planned to be extended to Cu Chi.

Line 2 will travel underneath CMT8 road, which is one of the worst traffic sewers in the city. Commuters will rejoice at going underground and never having to see that road again. Some of the old maps show the line deviating from the path to make a junction with Ga Sai Gon (the main station for trains to Hanoi). The line is not deviating, so Hoa Hung metro station will be about 400 metres away from Ga Sai Gon.

One solution to this would be to clear the area between the two stations and build an underground mall and shopping complex to connect the stations. Something in comparison to the maze of underground shops at Shinjuku station in Tokyo, or Gangnam station in Seoul.

That’s a lot of land clearing, though it’s not beyond the capabilities of the city. Indeed, just before Hoa Hung is the Dan Chu traffic circle, which is one of the craziest roundabouts in Saigon. Next to the roundabout whole city blocks have been cleared to make way for mega-developments.

[Dan Chu Roundabout.]

The Hado Centrosa Garden construction is proceeding well, and the project is advertising itself as being near the metro station. Line 2 was meant to be finished by 2018, so you can’t blame them for using that as a selling point. Unfortunately, these big projects are racing ahead and transport infrastructure is not keeping up. Line 2 can’t begin soon enough.

[Hado Centrosa Garden construction.]

From Ben Thanh, Line 2 will be extended under the Saigon River and terminate at Ga Thu Thiem in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area. This is where the railway for Long Thanh International Airport will be, and maybe one day the high speed train to Nha Trang.

Line 3

Line 3 is split into two projects: 3A and 3B. Line 3A is an extension of Line 1. It looks confusing on the map to have a line terminate at the main station in the middle of the system. It has been confirmed though that Line 1 and Line 3A will be one continuous line. The current numbering system is more likely to be project numbers, so eventually this will be represented on the official map as Line 1. For the sake of being able to follow the construction progress I’ve kept the project numbers as they are represented on the MAUR website.

The city finalised plans in November 2017 to begin construction of 3A, which would see the line finished by 2026. Here is a preview video of what to expect from Line 3A.

The first phase of 3A will from travel Ben Thanh to Mien Tay Bus Terminal (Western Bus Terminal), so line 1/3A will be bookended by bus terminals.

Phase two will extend from Mien Tay to Tan Kien, which is the location of the proposed western bypass railway that will go from My Tho to Bien Hoa. I’ve included the outline of the proposed railway to show where each metro line connects to this proposed railway.

Line 3B starts from Cong Hoa station on Line 3A and travels to Hiep Binh Phuoc Station in Thu Duc District. Funding for this line was being sought in 2015. There are also plans to extend this line beyond Hiep Binh Phuoc, though news reports vary on where. Some reports have the line extending to Thu Dau Mot in Binh Duong province, which is 32 km from Ben Thanh. Other reports have it connecting to the extended Line 1 at Di An Town. I have added this option on the map as a possible extension.

Line 4

Line 4 will be the third line that intersects at the Ben Thanh central station (when counting 1/3A as one continuous line). This 36 km north-south line was quoted as requiring $4.5 billion dollars in 2015, so probably another billion is needed by now.

I’ve not found a confirmed alignment for this line. Old maps show it running from Ben Thanh to Opera House alongside Line 1, then branching off towards Turtle Lake. If this was the case then 4 tunnels would be needed on Le Loi.

Line 4B / 4B1 (airport extensions)

Bundled into Line 4 are the two proposals for an extension to the airport. Originally there was no metro planned for the airport as it was assumed that the new Long Thanh airport would be running. With Tan Son Nhat becoming overcrowded and the new airport not even started to be built, these two proposals have been made.

Line 4B would run between Gia Dinh Park on Line 3 and Lang Cha Ca and Line 5, stopping at the airport in between. Proposal 4B1 would run underground from Hoang Van Thu Park to TSN as a spur line from Line 5. This addition would then include Saigon into the club of cities in Southeast Asia with airport railways.

Line 5

Line 5 forms half a ring around the city centre and will enable transferring between all the previous lines from the outer districts.

€850 million was pledged for metro line No.5 in 2013, with construction of the first phase initially to begin in 2015.

The second phase of the line was seeking funds in 2016, even though the first phase had not begun. This is the western segment which continues from the Bay Hien intersection to Can Giuoc Bus Station.

Line 6

Line 6 feeds the outer western districts of Saigon to the first two lines. Eventually Line 6 could become an outer ring line, connecting more lines along the way.

Tram Way No.1

Saigon’s original transport system was a tram network, of which the last tram ran in 1957. The streets of Saigon are too crowded for trams now, but the route along Vo Van Kiet has enough space to run a light rail down the middle.

[Vo Van Kiet – 10 lanes wide here, so enough room for a light rail.]

Tramway 1 line was proposed in 2006, with the service being ready by 2009 (file this under “news that didn’t age well”).

Monorail 2

In addition to the light rail, there are two monorails planned. This is not the first time there has been a plan for a monorail in Saigon. In the 1960’s there was a proposal for two suspended monorail lines.

That would have been similar to the Wuppertal Schwebebahn in Germany, which is the only suspended monorail in operation. The Schwebebahn travels along a river through the city, and it must rank as the world’s most steampunk form of public transport.

[Wuppertal Schwebebahn]

I was a monorail sceptic until recently. Monorails are usually associated with theme parks and airport transportation. Sentosa Island in Singapore is a good example of an appropriate use of a monorail.

Sydney had a much-derided monorail that used to loop around the city centre. They have since pulled it down and are now building a light rail that will pass through the city.

The other terrible monorail that comes to mind is the Kuala Lumpur monorail. This line goes through central KL, connecting the main train station to one of the biggest tourist areas (Bukit Bintang). The carriages are small and the city has far outgrown the intended capacity of this service. I always think of that Simpsons episode with the monorail when I ride it.

[The monorail industry must hate this episode of the Simpsons.]

So I never met an urban monorail that I liked until I went to Tokyo. The monorail from Haneda airport is spacious and still feels like a metro train, so if Japan have anything to do with the monorail projects of Saigon, then I am all for it [http://www.gahanoi.com.vn/english-news/japan-to-send-experts-for-monorail-project].

[Onboard the monorail to Haneda Airport.]

Monorail 2 will traverse the new districts of 2 and 7. I would have thought there was enough room for a proper skytrain like the current Line 1, but if it’s of Japanese quality then I’m cool with the monorail. This will travel along Nguyen Van Linh in District 7, which is already getting to the point where traffic is jamming.

Nguyen Van Linh on a normal day at 7.30am. Used to be nothing like this #vietnam #hochiminhcity #saigon #district7

A post shared by Matt Cowan (@mattcowansaigon) on Nov 20, 2017 at 5:07pm PST

The MAUR website also has Monorail 2 going through Thao Dien to Thanh Da in Binh Thanh. I have no idea how that would work – I’m just recording what is on their map, so Thaodienites don’t message me for details.

Monorail 3

Monorail 3 will start at Go Vap station on Line 4 and travel to Quang Trung Software City and terminate at Tan Chan Hiep. This would connect to the proposed belt railway from An Binh station to Tan Kien and onwards to the Mekong Delta. This line is scheduled to begin in 2019, taking 5 years to complete.

Ben Thanh Central Station

The most visible sign of metro construction is in the heart of the city at Ben Thanh Market. The previously (in)famous traffic roundabout is now a giant construction site for the central station of the metro. Three lines will converge here, so it’s a complex operation.

[Ben Thanh Station construction.]

A render of the station was produced early on, and it hasn’t been updated since. Opposite the station is the One Central HCM project.

[Ben Thanh Station – Image from MAUR.]

Since the initial plan was released it was announced that an underground mall will be built between Ben Thanh and Opera House stations. The 500 metre-long shopping area will run under Le Loi Street. As with the monorail, I too was a skeptic of the underground mall concept until I went to Tokyo. I would welcome an underground mall with a labyrinth of shops and standing sushi bars if that is what is going to happen. The project has attracted interest from an investor from Japan, so one can only hope that a Tokyo-style mall is on the cards.

Regional Lines

The map also includes current and proposed lines operated by Vietnam Railways. A fully functional transit network has interconnectivity between metro and regional railways so I have put that on the map for future context. The only railway currently operating is the Saigon-Hanoi line, and the first stop is at Bien Hoa, just outside the city limits of Ho Chi Minh City. In its current form, it doesn’t offer any place to transfer to a metro line.

The map includes a proposed western ring railway that would travel from Bien Hoa to the Mekong Delta.

For the proposed extension of Metro Line 1 to Bien Hoa New City, I’ve taken the liberty to connect that to the planned Bien Hoa – Vung Tau line.

Other proposed metro lines

The routes on this map are the officially published lines from MAUR. There have been other proposals in the news which I will add to an expanded map (subscribe for updates).

The proposed new airport at Long Thanh is about 40KM east of the city. One proposal had a high-speed train from Thu Thiem to the airport, and then onwards to Nha Trang. Another report has the metro extending all the way to the new airport. I would be happy with both, like how London Heathrow has the option for the Underground line or the Heathrow Express.

Another line was proposed by neighbouring Binh Duong Province to build a line from Thu Dau Mot Town which would connect to Line 1. That would be around where Di An is on the map and Thu Dau Mot is directly north of the city.

Metro station locations

While drawing this map I made a Google Map to keep track of the lines and station locations. The stations aren’t exact, and many of the stations are just named after the nearest main street, but this will give you a general idea of where the lines run.

[View the Google Map here.]

How feasible is this plan?

In 2015 the city announced that it set a target of completing this public transport system by 2030.

While the first line is expected to take eight years, the subsequent lines should be built faster once the city develops knowledge of metro building. If a line takes an average of five years to build, this is what the timetable would need to look like to get 9 lines finished by 2030.

2017 Line 1 under construction
2018 Line 2 start
2019 Line 3 start
2020 Line 4 start – Line 1 completed
2021 Line 5 start
2022 Line 6 start
2023 Line 7 start – Line 2 completed
2024 Line 8 start – Line 3 completed
2025 Line 9 start – Line 4 completed
2026 Line 5 completed
2027 Line 6 completed
2028 Line 7 completed
2029 Line 8 completed
2030 Line 9 completed

So a new line has to start every year until 2025. At its peak, there would be five lines under construction by 2022, and a new line becoming operational every year from 2023. By 2025 more lines should also have been considered, so a new metro is always being worked on. By then there is a team of skilled metro builders that don’t need to relearn how to make a metro.

The best-case scenario would be a timeline similar to this. The worst-case scenario would be for Line 1 to be completed and further construction grinding to a halt for another decade. There were reports of the construction stopping mid-way due to funding. At this point, there is no turning back, so the money will be found. The prospect of no future work being done on the other lines is real though. City development would then become lopsided as canyons of high-rise towers follow the length of the single metro. Just have a look at how Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok has developed to see what the power of a metro line has.

[Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok is a canyon of apartment towers following the Skytrain.]

One of the problems the city has faced has been the lack of autonomy over its finances. With the most recent funding shortage the city had dip into its own funds while waiting for funds to be released.

In what could be good news for the city more power has been handed to Ho Chi Minh City to make investment decisions for at least five years.

The first line is proceeding slowly, though when compared with other new lines in Asia it’s going ok. For example, the first metro line in Shanghai began construction in 1986, and the first 4.4 km segment began operations seven years later in 1993. From that humble beginning, the Shanghai Metro system is currently the world’s largest transit system by route length.

Another comparable example is Taipei. After getting approval for the first line in 1986, construction began in 1988. The first 10.5 km line was opened eight years later in 1996 after delays and budget overruns. The construction years were known as the “Dark Age of Taipei Traffic”. Taipei has seven lines and it’s now a lean mean metro-building machine that is building and extending more lines every year. This Wiki graphic shows the progress of the Taipei metro over 18 years.

[Evolution of the Taipei Metro, 1987-2015, by Abc480528 via Wikimedia Commons.]

Saigon has now entered its own dark age of traffic (motopocalypse?), so there is no more time to waste.

Ho Chi Minh City Metro Concept Map

While studying the city and the proposed routes, I’ve also identified what roads and areas should also be included in the future metro system. I’ve created the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Concept Map, which expands on the current plans. The map is subtitled “If Saigon had a subway like Shanghai“.

Urban Rail Transit

Read more about urban rail transit systems around the world.

I took this photo as a historical reference to the changing face of Ho Chi Minh City. The city is finally getting a sorely needed metro system and there are numerous blocks in district 1 that are now boarded up in preparation for construction.

The building in the foreground is the Saigon Tax Trade Centre; a 90-year-old building that is soon to be demolished. While the building has gone through so many renovations as to be unrecognizable from its original form, it holds a special place in locals hearts. At Christmas time it becomes the focal point of the city, where the streets are jammed with people coming to look at the Christmas displays.

The Tax Centre will close down at the end of September in preparation for demolition. In its place will be a 40 storey tower that will be connected to the Opera House metro station that is being built in front of it. Many Saigonese I have spoken to are saddened by the loss, even though it means there will be a metro station in its place. Planning has also begun for more projects near future metro stations.

Read more about Line 1 HCMC Metro and urban rail transit systems around the world.

Read more about the metro at the Ho Chi Minh City Metro guide.