The Compassionate Ticket ATM initiative will operate at Ben Thanh Station and Suoi Tien Terminal Station on the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line, according to HCM City Urban Railway No.1 Company (HURC).
The programme targets disadvantaged groups including students, low-income workers and residents facing financial difficulties with daily travel expenses.
Passengers can receive free tickets through automated kiosks installed at the two stations by scanning their citizen ID cards or VNeID QR codes, selecting their destinations and collecting tickets directly from the machines.
The system will record identification and ticket-use data for verification purposes. Each passenger will be eligible for one free ticket per transaction, with a minimum 30-minute interval before receiving another ticket.
HURC said the programme was funded through donations from businesses, organisations and individuals rather than the state budget.
Metro Line 1 officially began commercial operations in December 2024 and has since served nearly 30 million passengers.
HCM City currently offers free metro travel to several priority groups, including war veterans, people with disabilities, senior citizens aged 60 and above, and children under six. Students receive a 50 per cent discount on monthly passes.
