Free metro, bus rides ring in 2026 as Ho Chi Minh City residents flock to public transport

At Ben Thanh and Ba Son Metro Stations, passenger numbers were far higher than usual, with a steady stream of people arriving to experience the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line on the first day of the year.

To accommodate the surge, additional metro staff were deployed at ticket gates and platforms to guide passengers, manage crowd flow, and distribute free tickets.

Notably, metro tickets issued on Thursday carried no destination limits, allowing riders to travel to any station along the line.

Among the passengers was Doan Hanh Nhan, a 25-year-old resident of An Phu Ward, who traveled with her father and younger sister.

“We’re usually busy with work and rarely have time to go out together as a family. With the New Year holiday and free metro tickets, we decided to spend the day sightseeing,” she said.

Her family boarded the metro train at An Phu Station, traveled to Ben Thanh Station, and then stopped at locations such as Ba Son and Ben Thanh to explore the stations and surrounding areas.

Nhan shared that the trip was a memorable experience.

“The atmosphere on the metro today is very joyful, while at the stations, everyone is well dressed,” she said.

“Knowing the metro is free makes me even more excited because people of all ages can join in.

“It’s a great way to share the joy of the New Year and feel more connected."

Throughout the day, many families and groups of young people took photos to capture their first metro rides of the year.

Despite the crowds, stations remained orderly, and boarding and alighting proceeded smoothly.

Meanwhile, bus stations across the city did not see a significant increase in passengers.

Still, many bus riders expressed delight at the free fares.

Dinh, who took his family to the zoo on New Year’s Day, said the surprise added to the outing.

“We don’t usually take the bus. Today we only found out at the stop that rides were free. It was unexpected and very pleasant, especially for a family with young children,” he said.

Nghia, a bus driver on Route No. 34, noted that ridership on January 1 was similar to an ordinary day.

“Many regular passengers have gone back to their hometowns or aren’t commuting during the holiday,” he explained.

“However, everyone today was happy to ride for free. Most people already knew about the program thanks to widespread media coverage."

The fare-free metro and bus program on the first day of 2026 was expected to encourage greater use of public transport, helping residents become more familiar with these services and potentially reducing pressure on urban traffic during peak holiday periods.