Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – Residents in Ho Chi Minh City will enjoy free rides on Metro Line No.1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) and bus services on March 15 to facilitate local voters' travel on election day.
The Public Transport Management Centre under the municipal Department of Construction announced on March 3 that the fare exemption aims to best serve voters travelling to polling stations to elect deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 tenure.
On March 15, all fares will be waived for passengers on 109 subsidised bus routes across the city, as well as on non-subsidised routes No. 67, 109, 171, 172, 60-1, 60-3, 60-5, 60-7 and 63-1. Metro Line No.1 will also operate free of charge throughout the day.
The move is intended not only to meet travel demand among voters but also to encourage greater use of public transport, thereby helping ease traffic congestion during the nationwide election festival. The programme is expected to improve accessibility to polling stations across the city.
In addition to the fare waiver, transport operators have been instructed to prepare adequate vehicles and standby personnel, while enhancing real-time monitoring via GPS and camera systems to ensure safe and smooth operations. Information on routes and timetables of bus and metro services will be continuously updated on the MultiGo application and electronic boards to help voters plan their journeys.
The city has previously offered free rides on Metro Line No.1 during major holidays, including Reunification Day (April 30), International Workers’ Day (May 1), National Day (September 2), New Year and Lunar New Year 2026./.
