Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – The passenger number on Ho Chi Minh City's bus network has increased by more than 30% year on year since the city introduced free fares on 134 subsidised routes on July 1, reflecting growing support for public transport.
According to the city's Public Transport Management Centre, more than 1.32 million passenger trips were recorded on the subsidised routes during the first five days of the programme.
The figures show strong growth compared to the same period last year. On the first day of the policy, July 1, buses carried nearly 274,000 passengers, equivalent to 128% of the volume recorded a year earlier. Ridership peaked at almost 283,000 passengers on July 3, or 135% of the level seen on the same day in 2025.
Overall, the average passenger number during July 1–5 was about 30% higher than a year earlier.
Speaking at a meeting of the municipal Party Committee on July 6, Director of the municipal Department of Construction Tran Quang Lam said the free-fare policy, introduced under the Party Committee's policy and a resolution of the municipal People's Council, has received strong public support.
He described the increase in bus ridership as an encouraging sign for the city's public transport system, but stressed that a comprehensive solution to traffic congestion will require a high-capacity public transport network, with the metro system playing a central role.
He added that the city also needs continued investment in transport infrastructure, expansion of public transport services and measures to reduce the use of private vehicles.
The Public Transport Management Centre said travel remains smooth despite the higher number of passengers, with no sudden overcrowding or need for additional buses so far.
The centre has stepped up service quality monitoring and promptly handled passenger complaints through the 1022 hotline and digital platforms. It is also helping passengers install the MultiGo app and prepare to use citizen ID cards and the VNeID digital identification platform for the future rollout of an electronic ridership recording system.
Ho Chi Minh City currently operates 88 electric bus routes with 1,404 vehicles, accounting for more than half of its active fleet. Together with 21 compressed natural gas (CNG) bus routes, 109 of the city's 179 bus routes now use environmentally friendly energy.
The city aims for all intra-city buses to run on electricity or other clean energy by the end of 2026, and all intra-city and inter-provincial buses to be fully electric by early 2029. Authorities also plan to expand the bus network, improve links with metro lines and Long Thanh International Airport, and introduce new night bus and demand-responsive services./.
