Transit-oriented Development (“TOD”): Toward International Standards
Transit-Oriented Development (“TOD”) is an urban planning approach that promotes compact, mixed-use development centered around public transport hubs. Successfully implemented in countries such as Singapore and Taiwan, TOD has contributed to more efficient land use, reduced traffic congestion, and improved urban connectivity.
In Vietnam, the TOD concept has gradually attracted policy interest, particularly through pilot infrastructure projects in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. TOD was first defined and enabled under Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 dated 24 June 2023 as a pilot scheme to develop Ho Chi Minh City’s infrastructure. However, it was not until Decree No. 123/2025/ND-CP dated 11 June 2025 detailing overall technical design and special mechanisms for certain railway projects (“Decree 123/2025/NĐ-CP”) and Law No. 95/2025/QH15 dated 27 June 2025 on Railway (“Law on Railway”) that its scope of application was amplified and actualized widely to various railway and metro line projects.
This article, the third in a series examining recent efforts to align Vietnamese construction law with international standards , describes the new legal framework for TOD. It highlights how this framework lays the groundwork for integrating transportation infrastructure with urban development, in support of sustainable and modern urban growth.
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