The first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern hub, has been listed as one of the world’s 100 greatest places in 2025 by U.S.-based TIME magazine, making it the only destination in the country to earn a spot on this prestigious list.

This is the seventh annual edition of TIME’s list, which highlights the best places to stay and visit worldwide across various categories, including hotels, resorts, cruises, restaurants, bars, attractions, cultural institutions, and more.

The ranking is based on criteria such as relevance, impact, innovation, and success.

TIME's selection of the metro line as one of 21 Asian destinations on its list of the 100 greatest places underscores its significance as a modern and appealing transit system for international visitors.

After 12 years of construction, metro line No. 1 – the first of the city’s eight planned urban railway projects – began commercial operations on December 22, 2024 and was officially inaugurated on March 9, 2025.

According to TIME, the arrival of mass rapid transit is an achievement for Ho Chi Minh City, a megapolis famous for its motorbike-choked roads.

More than just an infrastructure upgrade, the metro system introduces a new way for both locals and tourists to explore the bustling metropolis conveniently and efficiently.

With an investment exceeding VND43.7 trillion (US$1.7 billion), mostly sourced from Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) loans, the metro line spans 19.7 kilometers and consists of 14 stations.

It runs from Ben Thanh Station in downtown District 1 to Suoi Tien Coach Station in Thu Duc City, a district-level unit under Ho Chi Minh City.

The metro line features 2.6 kilometers of underground tracks, three underground stations, and 11 elevated stops.

It operates 17 trains, each accommodating up to 930 passengers, including 147 seated and 783 standing.

TIME commented that the line “promises to ease congestion and pollution in the country’s commercial capital, where the population has almost doubled in the last two decades.”

The metro improves access to key attractions in the city.

“Now travelers can bypass whizzing motorbikes and gridlocked streets to reach popular tourist sites such as the French colonial Saigon Opera House, Nguyen Hue pedestrian boulevard, and bustling backpacker/nightlife thoroughfare Bui Vien,” TIME editors wrote.

Highlighting the metro’s modern design and high-speed operation, the magazine emphasizes its contribution to enhancing the quality of urban life by providing a comfortable and efficient mode of transport for both residents and tourists.

Among other Asian destinations on the list were L*SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort in China, Nintendo Museum Uji in Japan, Celestia in Indonesia, Nangma Valley Trek in Pakistan, Raffles Jaipur in India, Eagle Hunter Cultural Center in Mongolia, Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum in Bhutan, and Zebun Nessa Mosque in Bangladesh.

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