- Leaders from Ho Chi Minh City and the UK’s FCDO have agreed to strengthen cooperation in urban planning, infrastructure and transport under GCIEP.
- The signing of a memorandum of understanding coincided with a workshop on implementing transit-oriented development (TOD) in the city.
- The event brought together the Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of the city and the British Ambassador to Vietnam, among other leaders.
The MoU signing coincided with a workshop and discussion on TOD in HCMC
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is accelerating the delivery of transit-oriented development (TOD) following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between The People’s Committee of HCMC and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The signing of the MoU took place on 23 September 2025, coinciding with a workshop on implementing TOD in the city, and brought together senior figures from the UK and HCMC, alongside international organisations and businesses in infrastructure, urban planning and sustainable finance.
In attendance were Mr Matt Western MP, UK Trade Envoy to Vietnam; Mr Bui Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of HCMC; Mr Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam; and Ms Alexandra Smith, British Consul-General in HCMC.
Mr Matt Western commented: “Ho Chi Minh City is at the forefront of Vietnam’s urban transformation. With the development of new metro lines and the ambitious plan to implement TOD, the city is leading the way in showing how transport, land use and investment can be integrated to deliver growth that is both sustainable and people-centred.
“The UK brings world-class expertise to this effort. Our companies have delivered some of the most complex transport and urban projects in the world. Crossrail International, for example, will share lessons from London’s Elizabeth Line. Arup, Broadway Malyan and other UK partners have long experience in shaping modern, liveable cities across Asia and beyond.”
Mr Bui Xuan Cuong said: “We greatly value the support and cooperation of the UK government in the development of smart transport systems and the TOD model in Ho Chi Minh City – from the collaboration in implementing the integrated ticketing project for public transport, to the more recent support for research on mechanisms and policies for TOD implementation through GCIEP.
“On behalf of the leadership of Ho Chi Minh City, I wish the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership continued practical and effective growth.”
The MoU builds on the UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership (2010–2030) and the Vietnam-UK Action Plan (2024–2026), providing a foundation for strengthened cooperation in urban planning, construction, infrastructure and transport through concrete projects and initiatives. It also opens new opportunities to boost trade and investment and enhance HCMC’s technical and managerial capacity.
Meanwhile, the workshop featured presentations, panel discussions and open sessions to explore solutions for accelerating sustainable TOD implementation in HCMC and Hanoi.
Reflecting on the event, Mr Bui Xuan Cuong said: “We hope that experts, speakers, businesses and international organisations actively engage in discussions, contributing ideas on metro network development, solutions to overcome current bottlenecks and approaches to implementing TOD that are best suited to Vietnam’s conditions – turning the ‘super-connectivity’ vision of Ho Chi Minh City into reality.”
The UK’s Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme is tackling climate change and extreme poverty by accelerating the delivery of sustainable green cities and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Published
01/10/25