Ho Chi Minh City moves to make bus fares free citywide

He announced the plan during the fifth conference for the 2025-30 term held by the city’s Party Committee on Wednesday.

The city is expected to spend some VND7 trillion (US$266 million) covering free bus travel annually.

The initiative aligns with directives from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, who has urged the city to prioritize tackling chronic traffic jams and worsening air quality.

The municipal Department of Construction is in charge of further studying the plan for implementation.

The department was also asked to redesign routes to improve efficiency, punctuality, and service quality.

Besides, the city is set to expand the fleet of electric buses through financial incentives and policy support, contributing to broader environmental goals.

The city is offering free bus rides to seniors over 60, children under six, people with disabilities, and those recognized for meritorious service, at an estimated annual cost of about VND1.7 trillion ($65 million).

Students also benefit from discounted fares.

A single bus trip typically costs VND5,000-VND7,000 ($0.18-0.26), according to local media.

Providing 15 million residents with free medical check-ups, screenings

As for public health, Quang set an ambitious target, requesting that nearly 15 million residents of Ho Chi Minh City undergo at least one medical check-up and screening this year.

The municipal Department of Health was assigned to implement citywide free health check-ups in 2026, without dividing the roll-out into phases.

He underlined that this task must be carried out in accordance with Resolution 72 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions for strengthening the protection, care, and improvement of public health.

“With the city’s medical capacity, failing to achieve this would be unacceptable,” Quang said.

He instructed the department to map out a detailed implementation plan within two weeks.