Pham Thi Thu Thao, Ho Chi Minh City’s first female metro train driver, recently sat down with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper to share her feelings on the upcoming opening of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thao worked as a preschool teacher for 11 years before becoming the city’s first and only metro train operator.

After seeing an ad for the metro train driver position posted to social media in 2020, she decided to take a shot at a new career. 

She was soon hired and began a systematic training process, consisting of both theoretical and hands-on learning experiences. 

The learning process was difficult, but she eventually completed the course and was allowed to drive trains for the city’s metro line No. 1.

One of Thao’s favorite parts of her job is enjoying the stunning cityscape along the metro route, especially the elevated section between Saigon Bridge and Ben Thanh Station.

Beyond the views, Thao is enthusiastic about the cultural shift she believes the metro line will inspire, such as fostering habits like queuing, respecting personal space, and maintaining public hygiene.

According to Thao, these behaviors will be encouraged by staff who will guide passengers on purchasing tickets and navigating the process of boarding and exiting the metro trains.

The metro trains on line No. 1 will operate every four minutes, significantly easing traffic congestion along the route.

More importantly, Thao expressed her hope that her role as a metro train driver will inspire other young women to pursue careers that challenge traditional gender norms.

Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 is scheduled to officially open to the public on December 22.

Metro line No. 1, the first of the city’s eight planned urban railway projects, broke ground in August 2012 with a total investment of VND43.7 trillion (US$1.72 billion), most of which came from Japan's official development assistance loans.

The line is 19.7 kilometers long, including 2.6 kilometers of underground railway and 17.1 kilometers of elevated track, stretching from Ben Thanh in District 1 to Suoi Tien Coach Station in Thu Duc.

It has 17 trains, each of which consists of three carriages that can accommodate a total 930 passengers, including 147 sitting and 783 standing. 

The train can run at a maximum speed of 110kph on its elevated sections and 80kph underground.

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