International Workshop: Urban Design Towards TOD Development
The workshop “Urban Design Oriented Towards TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) Models” took place from September 5–9, 2025, jointly organized for students from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and Thammasat University (Thailand). The program aimed to provide students with practical experience and to develop initial planning proposals for the Truong Tho urban area based on the TOD model. With the official operation of Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) since December 22, 2024, Ho Chi Minh City is now facing both opportunities and challenges in transforming urban areas around metro stations into compact, creative, and sustainable urban spaces. The workshop not only enabled students to analyze current conditions and learn from international case studies, but also to propose visions and concrete solutions for transforming Truong Tho from an industrial “gray land” with outdated infrastructure into a livable, environmentally friendly city, resilient to population and traffic pressures.
The urgency of TOD-based compact urban development in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City has long been under immense pressure from traffic congestion, pollution, and imbalanced development. Transitioning towards an urban development model centered on public transportation (TOD) is therefore considered a strategic pathway. Since the official commercial operation of Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) on December 22, 2024, the city has affirmed its commitment to investing in public transportation and promoting TOD-oriented development.
The city has been planning and gradually implementing TOD models along Metro Line 1 and other upcoming lines, such as Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh – Tham Luong). Specific examples include the areas surrounding Phuoc Long Station in Truong Tho and Phuoc Long A Wards, the former Coconut Farm land plot, and Long Binh Ward, which are designated for TOD-oriented development. The city has also established regulatory frameworks to foster compact “urban cores” along metro lines, integrating residential areas, metro stations, feeder roads, bus terminals, and multi-functional services within a reasonable walking distance (approximately 400–800 meters from stations), ensuring accessibility by public transport and pedestrian movement.
Figure 1. Students receiving instructions for site surveying in the Truong Tho area, Ho Chi Minh City
Workshop: An International Learning Experience between UEH and Thammasat
The workshop took place from September 5–9, 2025, with 20 students (10 from Vietnam and 10 from Thailand). Research focused on the Truong Tho area, a site with strong TOD potential along Metro Line 1 (Phuoc Long Station is located within Truong Tho, designated as a TOD-priority area).
· Day 1: Team introductions, group formation, and site survey in Truong Tho. Students traveled entirely by public transport (bus and metro) before walking the area to observe the existing environment, infrastructure, building density, traffic connections, quality of public spaces, and local residents’ lifestyles.
Figure 2. Dr. Adrian Lo, UEH faculty, with students from Vietnam and Thailand at Ben Thanh Metro Station, Ho Chi Minh City.
· Day 2: Data consolidation, site mapping, and issue analysis. Students studied international TOD case studies and drew lessons from Metro Line 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, including pedestrian accessibility within a 400–800m radius, and successful examples of compact, high-quality urban living from countries such as Singapore, Germany, Spain, Malaysia, Japan, and China.
· Day 3: Cultural immersion day, allowing students to explore Ho Chi Minh City’s urban culture. This helped deepen their understanding of socio-cultural characteristics and provided context for proposing TOD designs aligned with local identity.
Figure 3. Dr. Amika, Thammasat University, guiding students in conducting case-based research.
· Day 4: Intensive group work at UEH Campus V, where students conducted SWOT analysis for Truong Tho.
o Strengths: proximity to metro stations, potential land redevelopment, strong housing and service demand.
o Weaknesses: incomplete infrastructure, fragmented connectivity, industrial/gray land, inconsistent planning.
o Opportunities: new TOD policies, metro investment, rising investor interest, potential land auctions.
o Threats: cost, legal frameworks, flooding risks, environmental challenges, weather conditions.
The teams developed a vision for Truong Tho as a TOD-oriented city: compact, multifunctional, eco-friendly, accessible by public transport, rich in green and public spaces.
Figure 4. Vietnamese and Thai students working in groups to sketch TOD design proposals.
· Day 5: Finalizing the master plan and TOD design concepts. Proposals included transforming industrial/gray land into mixed-use housing, commerce, parks, and open spaces; strengthening metro, bus, walking, and cycling connections; establishing supporting infrastructure and pedestrian-friendly networks; introducing flood mitigation and water management systems; and leveraging land value capture around metro stations to fund infrastructure and services. Students presented their innovative proposals in the final review session.
Figure 5. Vietnamese students presenting TOD proposals for the Truong Tho area, Ho Chi Minh City.
Significance of the Workshop
The workshop not only helped students from both universities engage with contemporary urban planning knowledge, but also honed critical thinking, teamwork, and international collaboration skills. More importantly, it strengthened young people’s awareness of their responsibility for sustainable urban development. The proposals generated in this workshop may serve as inspiration for future real-world projects, contributing to building a more livable, intelligent, and sustainable Ho Chi Minh City.
In the broader context of Vietnam’s urban transformation, with metro systems gradually being integrated into daily life, researching and applying TOD models is an inevitable trend. This workshop has demonstrated that students—future planners, architects, and urban designers—can indeed become key actors in shaping the smart cities of tomorrow.