The operator of Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line announced it has increased the number of trips and reduced intervals between voyages to accommodate passengers during the current Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) celebrations.

The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Co., Ltd. (HURC), which manages metro line No. 1, reported a significant increase in passenger numbers during recent days, especially at central stations like Opera House and Ben Thanh.

With the approval of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, HURC adjusted its operating plan to meet the growing travel demand. 

Starting from 6:30 pm on Wednesday, the company increased the number of trains.

Train intervals were reduced to nine minutes, which is shorter than the previous intervals, effectively increasing the number of trains running between 6:30 pm and 10:00 pm.

HURC closely monitors passenger numbers in order to make further adjustments as needed in the coming days.

Starting January 21, passengers on metro line No. 1, which runs 19.7 kilometers between Ben Thanh Station in District 1 and Suoi Tien Coach Station in Thu Duc City, began paying fares after a 30-day period of free travel.

Ticket prices for cash purchases range from VND7,000 (US$0.28) to VND20,000 ($0.8), depending on the distance, while non-cash purchases are priced from VND6,000 ($0.24) to VND19,000 ($0.76). 

Passengers crowd Ben Thanh station of metro line No.1 in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, January 30, 2025. Photo: Giai Thuy / Tuoi Tre

There are also day passes available for VND40,000 ($1.59) for unlimited travel for one day, three-day passes for VND90,000 ($3.59), and monthly passes for VND300,000 ($11.96). 

A discounted student monthly pass is available from VND150,000 ($5.98).

However, during the initial days of fare collection and the Tet holiday, some passengers experienced confusion, and staff were adjusting to the new system, leading to occasional congestion.

To address this, additional manual ticket measures were deployed such as cash payments and handwritten tickets.

In addition, some passengers reported difficulty purchasing tickets via the HCMC METRO app due to poor phone network signals.

In response, HURC has deployed extra staff at stations, especially at entrances and exits, to help guide passengers to purchase tickets. 

They are also working with relevant network operators to improve signal strength at underground stations for a smoother experience.

HURC recommends that passengers download the HCMC METRO app or use payment options like Mastercard and Momo QR codes for quick, cashless transactions. 

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