The fare waiver covers all 128 subsidised bus routes, as well as the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Line 2A and the elevated section of the Nhon-Hanoi Railway Station Line 3.1.
According to Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Centre Le Hoan, the bus network operated nearly 478,000 trips in July, serving more than 8.48 million passengers. Weekly growth accelerated throughout the month, rising from 33% in the first week to 45% in the fourth week.
For Ho Chi Minh City, expanding public transport will help ease traffic congestion, reduce emissions, lessen environmental pressures and, at the same time, provide practical support for low-income residents by lowering living costs and improving access to employment opportunities.
From July 1, Ho Chi Minh City will waive fares on 134 bus routes, including 109 subsidised and 25 non-subsidised services, with the policy remaining in effect through the end of 2026.
The city's People's Committee has proposed allocating an additional 665 billion VND (about 26 million USD) to cover 100% of bus fares during the six-month period.
Ho Chi Minh City currently offers free bus rides for residents aged 60 and above, costing an estimated 1.7 trillion VND (over 64.5 million USD) annually. Extending the policy to all passengers will require around 7 trillion VND per year from the local budget.