After more than a decade of construction, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, has launched its first mass rapid transit line. On Sunday, hundreds of people eagerly gathered to be among the first to ride Metro Line 1 as it officially began operations, according to the state-run news agency Viet Nam News.
The new metro line in Ho Chi Minh City runs from the bustling Ben Thanh Market in the city center to the Soui Tien Theme Park on the city’s northwestern edge. The line features 14 stops, including three underground and 11 above ground.
Its launch follows years of delays, including setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and financial challenges, as reported by state media.
At the inauguration ceremony, city official Bui Xuan Cuong highlighted that after 17 years of planning and 12 years of construction, the opening of the metro line is a major milestone for the city’s public transportation development.
The Vietnamese government hopes that the new metro system will help alleviate the severe traffic congestion in Ho Chi Minh City, which has a population of around 9 million.
Ho Chi Minh City plans to build eight metro lines in total, though the government has not yet announced the opening dates for the remaining lines.
To encourage riders, the metro offers free tickets for the first month, along with complimentary connections to new electric buses that link to metro stations.
After the initial free period, ticket prices will range from 7,000 to 20,000 dong (27 to 79 cents), depending on the distance. Elderly and disabled passengers will travel for free, while students and users of e-payment apps will receive discounts.
The trains will operate daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Vietnam’s transit infrastructure has become a battleground for influence between Japan and China, both keen to expand their presence in Asia.
Japan was the first to invest, contributing 43.7 trillion Vietnamese dong ($1.72 billion) to the Ho Chi Minh City metro project. However, China-backed Hanoi’s metro system opened its first line in 2021, ahead of Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi’s second metro line is set to begin construction in 2025.
Earlier this year, the Vietnamese government unveiled plans to build two high-speed rail lines connecting with China, Vietnam’s largest trading partner. Additionally, there are proposals to link Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by high-speed trains.