The figures were released at the city's socio-economic press briefing on September 24.
According to the Public Transport Management Centre, bus ridership has risen significantly since the launch of the policy supporting the use of public passenger transport services across Ho Chi Minh City.
Between July 1 and September 22, the city's 134 bus routes carried more than 26.8 million passengers, an increase of 48 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.
The policy is being funded under Resolution No. 09 of 2026, approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, with a budget allocation of VND 630 billion (about USD 24.2 million).
The centre said demand had increased sharply on several routes, particularly those serving students and high-density passenger areas, including the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City area.
Based on actual passenger numbers and travel demand at different times, the Public Transport Management Centre has worked with transport operators to adjust services.
Measures include adding 194 trips per day across 11 routes, revising operating schedules, adjusting departure times and intervals between services, and deploying reserve vehicles in areas experiencing the strongest growth in demand.