Ho Chi Minh City to offer free metro rides during New Year, Lunar New Year holidays

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has approved a policy to support the operating costs of metro line No. 1, allowing free rides during the two major upcoming holidays.

The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited (HURC1), which operates the metro, is partnering with Hoa Sen Advertising and Trading JSC to sponsor the free metro program on January 1, 2026 and February 16–17, 2026.

HURC1 has been tasked with coordinating with the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center and other relevant units to ensure the program complies with regulations.

The company must also complete all legal procedures and incorporate feedback from related departments.

The Department of Culture and Sports, the Department of Finance, the Department of Construction, and the Management Authority for Urban Railways are responsible for monitoring, guiding, inspecting, and reporting to the municipal government when any issues arise.

Previously, on the occasion of Vietnam’s 80th National Day (September 2), free rides were also offered on the metro line No. 1 for one day.

On that day, passengers could board the train for free by scanning their chip-based national ID card at the gate of stations or generating a 'Doc Lap' (Independence) QR code on the HCMC Metro HURC app.

Since October 1, 2025, HURC1 has expanded a pilot program to stop selling paper tickets at two more stations: Tan Cang and Rach Chiec. 

This brings the total number of stations discontinuing paper tickets to six: Opera House, Ba Son, Van Thanh, Phuoc Long, Tan Cang, and Rach Chiec.

Passengers can purchase tickets with cash via ticket vending machines, use bank cards or e-wallets at kiosks, or buy tickets through the HCMC Metro HURC app.