The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport on Monday launched the EMV Open-loop payment system to be implemented on city buses, allowing commuters to use their bank cards or e-wallets to pay for bus tickets instead of using cash or registering new cards.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Phan Cong Bang, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport, affirmed that the city is developing into a smart city and public transport plays an important role.

The development of public transport will gradually reduce personal vehicles, easing traffic congestion.

The application of e-tickets will pave the way for the implementation of flexible fare policies, including fare reductions, to improve the quality of bus services.

Bang added that the city piloted the EMV Open-loop payment system during the COVID-19 pandemic and faced multiple difficulties. 

Nevertheless, the city has trialed the service on 15 out of the 23 bus routes with a total of 284 vehicles.

Through the pilot scheme, the city saw the necessity of an e-ticket service to facilitate customers making payments and to reduce the use of cash, which is also a policy of the central government and the Ministry of Transport, Bang said.

The EMV Open-loop payment system has been widely used in many countries, such as the UK, Singapore, the U.S., and Australia.

Commuters do not need to use cash or register new cards or tickets for bus fare payments.

Foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City can also use their international bank cards to make payments.

Customers entitled to bus fare reductions, such as students, just need to register once on the Ho Chi Minh Management Center of Public Transport app to enjoy the fare cuts.

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