Ho Chi Minh City sees surge in bus and metro ridership after free fare policy

One month after Ho Chi Minh City introduced free bus travel on all routes, bus ridership jumped 39% and Metro Line 1 saw a 15% increase in passenger numbers year‑on‑year. The municipal Department of Construction reported that 478,000 bus trips served over 8.48 million passengers in July, with weekly growth rising from 33% to 45% and the strongest gains on routes to the former Binh Duong area. Metro Line 1 carried more than 1.8 million riders, helped by upgraded bus‑metro connections.

To encourage continued use of public transport, the city’s Public Transport Management Centre held a lucky‑draw program at six stations, awarding VND 40 million (about $1,700) in shopping vouchers. Winners such as 67‑year‑old Nguyen Thi Hong expressed appreciation for the initiative, while other passengers praised the modernised buses and improved shelter facilities.