Ho Chi Minh City launches Vietnam's first metro

After 17 years of planning and 12 years of construction, Ho Chi Minh City inaugurated Vietnam's first metro line, marking a significant milestone in the country's public transportation development. The project, primarily funded by the Japanese government, cost $1.7 billion, significantly exceeding its initial budget of $668 million.

The Metro Line 1 connects Ben Thanh market in the city center to Suoi Tien Theme Park, featuring 14 stations - three underground and 11 elevated. The opening attracted hundreds of eager residents, who praised the system's speed and convenience compared to traditional transportation methods.

To encourage ridership, the government is offering free travel during the first month of operation, followed by affordable fares ranging from 7,000 to 20,000 dong (27 to 79 cents). Special discounts will be available for students and e-payment users, while elderly and disabled passengers will ride free. The service will operate daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The project represents part of Vietnam's broader transportation infrastructure development, which has become an arena for Japanese and Chinese influence in the region. While Japan invested heavily in Ho Chi Minh City's metro, China supported Hanoi's first metro line, which opened in 2021.

The Vietnamese government plans to expand the metro system with six additional lines in Ho Chi Minh City. This development is part of a larger vision that includes ambitious plans for high-speed rail connections between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as links to China, Vietnam's largest trading partner.

Officials hope the new metro system will help alleviate the severe traffic congestion in Ho Chi Minh City, which is home to approximately 9 million people. Construction on Hanoi's second metro line is scheduled to begin in 2025, further expanding Vietnam's growing public transportation network.