Hanoi to offer free metro rides during Lunar New Year holiday

The 2026 Tet holiday in Vietnam for civil servants and public employees is scheduled for nine consecutive days, from Saturday, February 14 (27th of the twelfth lunar month), to Sunday, February 22 (sixth of the first lunar month).

Hanoi Metro on Thursday afternoon announced that it would waive all single-ride fares on the two metro lines from February 14 to February 22.

Passengers can obtain zero-cost tickets either through the Hanoi Metro mobile application or directly at station ticket counters.

Service schedules on the two metro lines will be adjusted to accommodate peak travel periods before and during Tet.

On Friday, or the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, trains operate from 5:30 am to midnight, with six-minute intervals from 6:30 am to 9:00 am and from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, 10-minute intervals during off-peak hours, and 15-minute intervals from 10:00 pm to midnight.

On February 14 and 15, trains run from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm, with 10-minute intervals until 8:30 pm and 15-minute intervals afterward.

On February 16, trains operate from 5:30 am until 2:00 am the following day, with 10-minute intervals from 5:30 am to 5:00 pm and 15 minutes from 5:00 pm to 2:00 am.

Service runs from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with 10-minute intervals on February 17 (the first day of the Lunar New Year.

On February 18, trains operate from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, every 10 minutes.

On February 19, service runs from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, with 10-minute intervals.

Trains operate between 5:30 am and 10:00 pm on February 20, every 10 minutes until 8:30 pm, then every 15 minutes.

On February 21 and 22, service runs from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm, with 10-minute intervals.

Outside the holiday period, after February 22, the two metro lines will operate on their regular schedules.

A representative of Hanoi Metro described the initiative as a meaningful Lunar New Year gift from the city to residents and visitors, helping to reduce urban traffic pressure while encouraging greater use of public transportation during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.

The fare exemption is part of a broader initiative announced by the Hanoi Department of Construction to provide free public transport during Tet.

In addition to the two metro lines, free fares will apply to 128 subsidized bus routes across the city during the period.