On the afternoon of December 22, Deputy Director of Urban Railway Company No. 1 (HURC1) Van Thi Huu Tam said that from 10am to 4pm, 78 trains rolled out to serve nearly 55,000 people who came to experience it.

Metro No. 1 will continue to run until 10 p.m., so this number will continue to increase on the first day of operation of Ho Chi Minh City's first urban railway line.

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Metro Line 1 trains were packed with passengers on the first day of operation. Photo: Tuan Kiet.

According to the HURC1 representative, in the first 30 days, passengers can experience it for free without using a card, downloading an app or using a CCCD. People only need to go to the station to easily access the metro.

Due to the large number of people coming to experience the metro at Ben Thanh station, causing overload, HURC1 recommends that passengers arrange to go to other stations, or choose to experience it on upcoming days to have a better trip and avoid having to wait in long lines.

"We hope people will line up in order, not push and shove, and give way to the disabled, the elderly, and children... to have fun and safe train trips," the representative added.

Passengers flock to Ben Thanh underground station to take metro line 1, causing the station to be overloaded. Photo: Tuan Kiet.

According to the train schedule, during the first 6 months of operation, metro train No. 1 will pick up passengers from 5am to 10pm. Trains will run every 8-12 minutes.

After 6 months, the route will open from 5:00 to 23:30. Trains will run at regular intervals of 5-10-15 minutes/trip (corresponding to the time frames: peak/normal/off-peak).

To help passengers easily access metro stations, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented a series of connectivity enhancement plans such as providing passenger transfer services using 17 electric bus routes to collect passengers. During the first 30 days of commercial operation, passengers will also travel free on electric buses.

In addition, at stations such as Van Thanh Park, Thao Dien, Rach Chiec, Phuoc Long, Binh Thai, Suoi Tien Bus Station, etc., parking lots are arranged to facilitate metro passengers.

Metro Line 1 is expected to be commercially operational from the end of January 2025. Passengers will buy tickets at 40,000 VND/person/ticket/day, with no limit on the number of trips per day. The price of a 3-day ticket is 90,000 VND.

Monthly ticket price: 300,000 VND/person/ticket/month; students: 150,000 VND (50% discount).

The fare for a one-way ticket paid in cash is from 7,000 - 20,000 VND depending on the route; the fare for a one-way ticket paid without cash is from 6,000 - 19,000 VND depending on the route.

Metro Line 1 accepts payment for fares in cash, coins, and domestic and foreign bank cards. Passengers can also use their existing bank cards or pay via Apple Pay/Google Pay/Samsung Pay to take the train.

Thousands of people in Ho Chi Minh City jostle to experience metro line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien

Thousands of people in Ho Chi Minh City jostle to experience metro line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien

On the morning of December 22, thousands of Ho Chi Minh City residents and tourists crowded onto metro train No. 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien to experience the first day of official operation.
Metro Line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien officially operates

Metro Line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien officially operates

After 17 years of approval and 12 years of construction, metro line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) has officially been put into operation, marking an important milestone in the history of transportation and urban development in Ho Chi Minh City.
Special milestones in 12 years of Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro construction

Special milestones in 12 years of Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro construction

Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) - the first urban railway project of Ho Chi Minh City - will officially start welcoming passengers tomorrow, after 12 years of construction with many special milestones.