HCMC – The Department of Construction of Ho Chi Minh City has proposed that the city use its budget to directly offer free rides to passengers using electronic identification (VNeID) or bank cards, as part of draft policy open for consultation.
The proposal prioritizes a model in which the city government pays transport operators based on actual ridership data, instead of passengers paying fares. Users would present identification such as citizen ID cards, VNeID, bank cards, or the MultiGo app for trip recording via onboard scanning systems.
The plan is one of four options under consideration for a free bus fare policy, including three for subsidized routes and one for non-subsidized routes. The draft resolution is being circulated for feedback from the Vietnam Fatherland Front, relevant departments and agencies.
Under the preferred option, existing infrastructure such as GPS, cameras, and integrated payment systems would be used to track passenger data and ensure transparent payments.
Two alternative options for subsidized routes include fixed revenue based on operational data without passenger identification, and payments calculated by average fares multiplied by actual output.
For 71 non-subsidized routes, where operators set fares independently, the city proposes buying trips at regulated unit prices to offset revenue losses, with estimated funding of VND303 billion.
Preliminary estimates put the total annual cost of providing free bus services across 180 routes, including 109 subsidized and 71 non-subsidized routes, at around VND930 billion.
HCMC currently operates more than 2,400 buses, including over 1,300 using clean energy such as electricity and CNG.
