Foreign donors have agreed to contribute 857 million euros (1.137 billion USD) for the first stage of the project to build an 8.9-km section of Metro Line No 5 linking Sai Gon Bridge in Binh Thanh district to Bay Hien intersection in Tan Binh district.

The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) said the ADB will finance 500 million USD, EIB 150 million euros, and the Spainish Government 200 million euros. The remaining will be financed by the Vietnamese Government's counter capital.

This is the third metro route in the city. The other two are Metro Line No 1 running from Ben Thanh market in District 1 to Suoi Tien tourist park in Thu Duc district and Metro Line No 2 which links Thu Thiem New Urban Area in district 2 to An Suong bus station in District 12.

Construction of Metro Line No 5 is scheduled to start in 2015 to link Metro Line No 1 (construction of which began in 2012) and Metro No 2 (construction to start next year).

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, after completion, Metro Routes No.1, 2 and 5 will each carry about 526,000 passengers a day.-VNA