The Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Centre said on July 7 that the city's 134 fare free bus routes carried more than 1.6 million passengers between July 1 and July 6, an increase of 33 per cent from the same period last year.
Passenger numbers reached their highest level since the programme began on July 6, when ridership rose 163 per cent year on year.
Officials said the strong increase suggested the policy was encouraging greater use of public transport while reducing travel costs, easing traffic congestion and helping cut emissions.
At a meeting with transport operators, the centre said the programme had attracted widespread public interest and extensive media coverage.
Operators, however, reported challenges in helping passengers complete identity verification, particularly during peak hours when demand surged. Some passengers boarded without completing the required verification, while drivers were occasionally required to assist them directly.
Transport companies said they would continue training drivers and attendants to guide passengers through the verification process and encourage wider adoption of the system.
