As of July, the city operates 88 electric bus routes and 21 compressed natural gas (CNG) routes, meaning 109 of its 179 bus routes now use clean energy, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Centre.
The city's bus network comprises 2,453 vehicles, including 1,404 electric buses, which account for more than 57 per cent of the fleet.
Authorities said replacing diesel buses with electric vehicles would help cut emissions, improve public transport services and enhance the passenger experience.
Electric buses operate in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Nam Anh).
The city aims to ensure that all intra city bus services run on electricity or other environmentally friendly energy sources by the end of 2026. During 2027 and 2028, buses powered by CNG will also be replaced with electric vehicles.
From January 1, 2029, all intra city and inter provincial bus services operating in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to be fully electric, supporting the city's long term strategy to build a greener and more sustainable public transport network.
Alongside the fleet transition, authorities plan to optimise the bus network, introduce new routes serving the former Binh Duong and Ba Ria, Vung Tau areas, strengthen links with Long Thanh International Airport and expand night bus services.
The city is also studying demand responsive transport services and improving connections between residential areas and metro lines, buses, river buses, public bicycles and other public transport options.
The Public Transport Management Centre said that between July 1 and July 5, the city's 134 fare free bus routes carried more than 1.3 million passengers, an increase of around 30 per cent compared with the same period last year.
