The city's 134 fare-free bus routes carried 294,266 passengers on July 13, the highest daily total since the policy took effect, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Centre.
The network operated 17,757 trips during the day, averaging 16.6 passengers per trip. Ridership was up 68 per cent from July 13, 2025, and 23 per cent from the previous day.
Between July 1 and July 13, the fare-free bus network carried 3.5 million passengers, with authorities saying the figures suggested more residents were choosing public transport.
The transport centre received 44 hotline calls, mostly information requests, and verified three reports of buses failing to stop. It also received 42 reports via the MultiGo app and social media.
The centre has stepped up inspections and remote monitoring to maintain service quality amid rising demand. Inspectors randomly checked 158 bus trips on July 13.
The centre also warned passengers not to use printed copies of the QR code from their national identity cards for fare verification, saying only the original card or authorised digital credentials would be accepted.