HCMC – HCMC will provide free travel on 134 bus routes from July 1, as the city seeks to boost public transport use and accelerate its transition to a fully electric bus fleet.
The fare exemption will apply to 109 subsidized routes and 25 non-subsidized routes operating within the city, the city’s Public Transport Management Center said on June 22.
The fare exemption will not cover interprovincial routes, open-top sightseeing buses for tourists, airport shuttle services or routes that cross provincial boundaries and operate in a manner similar to interprovincial services.
As a result, Route 172 linking HCMC and Vung Tau is excluded from the program because part of its route runs through neighboring Dong Nai.
The city will implement the program in two phases. From July through September, passengers will be able to travel free of charge without registration or identity verification requirements.
From October 1, riders will be required to verify their identity through methods such as national identification cards, the VNeID digital identity platform, bank cards, e-wallets or the MultiGo application.
During 2026-2027, HCMC will continue investing in and upgrading its bus stop and bus shelter system in line with modern standards.
The city will upgrade existing bus terminals, including Saigon Bus Station and Cho Lon Bus Station, while also investing in multi-storey parking facilities at Cho Lon Bus Station, Sai Gon Bus Station and Tan Phu Bus Station to enhance the capacity of the public passenger transport system.
At present, HCMC’s bus network operates 2,432 vehicles. Of these, 1,649 buses use electricity and green energy, accounting for 67.8% of the total fleet, while 783 buses use diesel fuel, representing 32.2%.
The city is expected to complete the conversion of 624 buses to electric operation in 2026. As a result, by early 2027, all intracity buses operating within HCMC will use electricity or green energy, reaching a conversion rate of 100%.
