HCMC – HCMC’s first and only metro line, Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien, carried more than 20.5 million passengers in 2025, exceeding its annual target by over 21%, according to the city’s urban railway operator.
Speaking on January 1, Van Thi Huu Tam, deputy director of HCMC Urban Railway Company (HURC), said the year marked a milestone for Metro Line 1, the city’s first modern mass transit system.
The line safely handled 80,154 train trips in 2025, meeting 100% of its operational plan. Total ridership reached 20,558,990 passengers, equivalent to 121.6% of the target. The steady rise in passenger traffic reflects a gradual shift toward public transportation among city commuters.
On December 31, 2025, the urban rail line served 90,034 passengers traveling to the city center for New Year’s Eve celebrations. During the early hours of January 1, from 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., the line carried 12,396 passengers, marking the first metro journeys of 2026.
To handle peak demand during New Year’s Eve, HURC increased operational staff at stations and strengthened passenger support. Crowd control and passenger flow measures were also implemented to ensure smooth and safe travel.
Beyond transport operations, HURC continued to expand cashless payment options across trains, stations, and digital platforms. The move aims to improve convenience for passengers and support the development of smart urban transport in the city.
In 2026, the metro operator plans to further improve service quality, enhance connectivity with other urban transport modes, and develop service ecosystems around metro stations.
For the Lunar New Year 2026, Metro Line 1 will step up operations. On February 14–15 (the 27th and 28th days of the final lunar month of 2025) and from February 18 to 22 (the second to sixth days of the Lunar New Year), the line will run 249 trips per day from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with intervals of 7 to 15 minutes.
On February 16 (the 29th day of the final lunar month), 250 trips are scheduled. To serve passengers attending Lunar New Year’s Eve fireworks on February 17, the metro will add 20 late-night services between 12:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the line is expected to operate 251 trips.
