HCM City to offer free bus and metro rides on New Year’s Day (Photo: An Huy)
Ho Chi Minh City will provide free bus and metro services on January 1, 2026, to cope with higher passenger volumes and reduce traffic pressure during New Year festivities.
According to the municipal Public Transport Management Centre, ridership is expected to rise sharply, especially in central areas, tourist attractions, historical sites and interprovincial bus terminals.
Fares will be waived on 106 subsidised bus routes, excluding routes 50 and 52, which mainly serve students. Several privately operated, non-subsidised routes have also agreed to join the programme.
The initiative is intended to encourage greater use of public transport, limit private vehicle use, ease congestion and reduce environmental impacts.
Passengers on Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien) will also travel free of charge. The operator will run 52 additional services compared with the previous day and extend operating hours until 11 pm on January 1.
Bus routes linking the city centre with Can Gio, including Route 20 (Ben Thanh-Nha Be), Route 77 (Dong Hoa-Can Thanh), Route 90 (Binh Khanh ferry-Can Thanh) and Route 75 (Saigon-Can Gio), will operate on their usual schedules, as demand on these corridors is expected to remain stable.
Services to Tan Son Nhat International Airport and interprovincial bus terminals will run according to approved timetables, with additional capacity deployed during peak periods to ease crowding.
