Ho Chi Minh City residents welcome New Year with metro rides, cycling in new lane

Metro line No. 1 surpasses 20 million passengers

Total ridership on metro line No. 1 has so far reached about 20.560 million trips, equivalent to 121.6 percent of the planned target.

On the first day of 2026, Ben Thanh Station, the downtown terminal station, saw heavy crowds as people flocked to take the metro.

Popular routes included Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien and Ben Thanh – Thao Dien.

Many passengers stopped to take photos at the pedestrian bridges and station spaces.

At present, the operator, Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited (HURC1), has mobilized maximum staff at stations to assist passengers.

At key stations such as Ben Thanh, police forces are also on duty to maintain order.

Compared to last year, stations have been equipped with more amenities during the 2026 New Year holiday, including cashless ticket vending machines and beverage dispensers.

A representative of HURC1 said that all passengers using metro line No. 1 on Thursday were offered free rides.

To meet travel demand, the metro operated 256 trips from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm on New Year's Day.

On New Year’s Eve, the operator added 20 more trips and ran trains from 12:30 am to around 2:15 am on January 1, serving nearly 13,000 people traveling to the city center to watch fireworks and celebrate the New Year.

Cycling under green canopies 

Ho Chi Minh City officially inaugurated its first dedicated bicycle lane on December 31. 

The road surface is asphalt concrete, while facilities such as bicycle stations, lighting systems, lane markings, and signage have been completed in a synchronized manner. 

As a result, cycling enthusiasts can leisurely ride under green tree canopies in a separated and safe lane.

According to the design, the dedicated bicycle lane is two meters wide, narrowing to 1.5 meters on bridge sections, with a speed of 20 km per hour.

The entire route is about 5.8 km long, with a total investment of VND 12.7 billion (US$482,889).

The project is expected to improve travel safety, encourage green transport, enhance urban quality, and create a comfortable and quiet public space.

Dieu Hien, 28, said she cycled along Mai Chi Tho Boulevard twice to fully enjoy the relaxed and comfortable feeling on the first day of the year.

“Riding under green trees and avoiding the danger of mixing with motorbikes and cars make me very excited,” she said.

“I hope there will be more bicycle lanes like this in the future to make things more convenient for residents.”