December 21, 2024 | 03:42 pm PT
Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line No. 1 officially launches operations on Sunday morning, connecting Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City, marking a milestone 12 years after construction began.
At 10 a.m. Sunday, all 14 stations of the metro line will officially open to the public.
During the first month, passengers can ride the metro for free, along with 17 connected electric bus routes. After this period, passengers will have the option to purchase single-ride tickets, as well as one-day, three-day, or monthly passes. Single-ride tickets paid with cash will range from VND7,000 to VND20,000 (US$0.27-0.79), depending on the distance traveled. For cashless payments, the fare will be slightly lower, ranging from VND6,000 to VND19,000.
The underground Ben Thanh station of Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line before the opening day. Photo by Read/Quynh Tran |
Work began on HCMC’s first metro route in August 2012. It was originally scheduled to be completed in six years.
The line, running 19.7km between Ben Thanh and Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City, has carried with it high hopes of opening up a new mode of mass transportation and addressing people’s need to travel between the downtown area and the city’s eastern gateway.
Costing over VND43.7 trillion (US$1.72 billion), Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien line includes 11 elevated stations and three underground ones: Ben Thanh, Opera House, and Ba Son, all in District 1.
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