Ho Chi Minh City gets boost in public transport

The first metro line was officially put into service on December 22, 2024, stretching nearly 20 kilometers, linking the Ben Thanh central area with the eastern part of the city, formerly Thu Duc City.

The line passes through riverfront areas, emerging financial and service hubs, and major destinations such as the Vietnam National University, Saigon High-Tech Park, and Suoi Tien Theme Park.

It has become a key transport spine.

Buses alone have never been sufficient to meet the city’s growing travel demand. Nor can a single metro line shoulder the burden by itself.

What the city needs is a fully integrated public transport system – on the roads, elevated above them, on waterways and underground.

With such connectivity, residents will have real choices for getting around without relying on private vehicles.

Around metro line No. 1, two-wheel parking areas should be expanded beyond their original designs.

They have been frequently full, a welcome form of ‘overcrowding.’

Dozens of electric bus routes now link directly to metro stations, while existing bus lines have also seen rising ridership thanks to the operation of the metro.

The optimism has grown further as Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard, a vital and heavily used gateway to the city center, saw reduced congestion in 2025.

Over the past 12 months, metro trains have run steadily on weekdays and weekends, during the day and into the evening, with all three carriages typically full.

Also, the number of trips has increased during national holidays.

Passenger convenience has continuously improved with the support of technology.

Manual ticketing has given way to simple app-based actions–tap, scan and swipe.

Integrated e-tickets for both bus and metro rides are now in place, allowing passengers to move seamlessly with nothing more than a smartphone.

Meanwhile, the Ben Thanh - Can Gio line has already got off the ground, promising that travel between the city’s farthest reaches will be faster and more convenient than ever.

Smoke-free, quiet, weatherproof, congestion-free and exceptionally safe, the metro is steadily winning over tens of millions of residents.

This success underscores the need to accelerate additional urban rail lines that connect with the existing network, such as the Thu Dau Mot - Suoi Tien and Long Thanh - Tan Son Nhat links.

Major transport projects, including Ring Roads 2, 3 and 4, are set to be completed in the coming years.

Yet nothing rivals the speed and convenience of the metro lines already in operation and those on the way.

The first year of metro line No. 1 has shown that wherever metro services appear, they are embraced and heavily used by the public.