Numbered exits confuse some Ho Chi Minh City metro passengers at Ben Thanh Station

Reporters from Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper observed at the station on Saturday morning that the metro line, which runs between Ben Thanh and Suoi Tien stations, was busy with people traveling for school, leisure, tourism and sightseeing.

However, passengers unfamiliar with the station may struggle to determine which direction to take, as the exits at Ben Thanh Station are identified only by numbers on signs, without the corresponding street names or specific locations.

Passengers may only find out which street an exit leads to after going outside, according to the observations.

If they choose the wrong exit, passengers may have to walk an additional 100-200 meters to reach their intended destination.

Nguyen Anh Thu, a resident of Thu Duc Ward, said she sometimes took the metro between Suoi Tien and Ben Thanh but found it easy to get lost at Ben Thanh Station.

She suggested displaying the names of specific streets instead of relying on exit numbers such as Exit 1, 2 or 3.

A group of passengers from Dong Nai City, including Minh Quan, also had difficulty finding the right exit when they wanted to reach a coffee shop on Ly Van Phuc Street.

Although they had taken the metro several times, they had to use Google Maps to find their way.

Quan said clearer signs showing whether an exit led to Ben Thanh Market or Tran Hung Dao Street would be particularly helpful for older passengers.

Passengers told Tuoi Tre that the signs should be revised because younger people who take the wrong exit can simply walk back, while older passengers may have greater difficulty identifying the correct direction.

Guide to the six exits

Ben Thanh Station has six exits, each leading to different streets and landmarks.

Exit 1 leads to Le Loi Street at the Nam Ky Khoi Nghia intersection and is the main exit in front of Ben Thanh Market. It is the busiest exit and leads to the Le Loi-Le Lai-Tran Hung Dao intersection.

Exit 2 leads to Le Loi Street at the Nguyen Trung Truc intersection, 23-9 Park and a bus pickup point, with Pham Ngu Lao Street within walking distance.

Exit 3 is an underground pedestrian route leading toward Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street. Passengers can use this route to cross the square without crossing major roads.

Exit 4 is at the Le Loi-Pasteur intersection and leads toward the Municipal Theater, while also connecting with future metro lines.

Exit 5 is near Phan Chu Trinh Street, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts and the One Central Saigon area.

Exit 6 leads toward Ham Nghi Street, the Ham Nghi central bus station, the old railway building and the Huynh Thuc Khang intersection.

Where to seek help

According to the metro operator, passengers who are unsure where to go can seek assistance at several locations inside the stations.

Every station has a ticket counter and an information desk staffed by employees of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Co., Ltd. (HURC1), the operator of metro line No. 1.

Platform staff and security guards can also provide direct assistance and are usually stationed near ticket gates and platforms, according to the operator.

Passengers can also use the HCMC Metro HURC app to check routes, stations and fares on the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien line and track trains in real time. 

The app also allows users to purchase tickets, top up their accounts and use QR codes to pass through the gates.

Station announcements and electronic information boards also provide information on arriving trains and their directions.

The operator recommends that first-time passengers arrive 10-15 minutes early to familiarize themselves with station entrances, signs and payment procedures.

During peak hours, trains run every five to seven minutes, and the line operates from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm. 

Passengers who take a train in the wrong direction can get off at the next station and change trains.

Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line No. 1, which officially began commercial operations on December 22, 2024, has 14 stations, including three underground and 11 elevated stations, along its nearly 20-kilometer route.