HCMC – The long-awaited first metro line in HCMC, connecting Ben Thanh Market and Suoi Tien Theme Park, has entered its final phase of testing as it prepares for commercial operations starting December 22, 2024.
All 17 trains have passed inspections and received certification from Vietnam Register, with validation seals effective until March 2027, according to the Management Authority for Urban Railways of HCMC (MAUR).
Trial runs, which began in October, have simulated regular service conditions, with trains operating at intervals ranging from 4 minutes 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
Ticket prices will range from VND7,000 to VND20,000 for single rides, with discounts for cashless payments. Monthly passes will cost VND300,000, while students can purchase them for VND150,000.
Daily passes are priced at VND40,000, and three-day passes at VND90,000. Seniors, disabled individuals, and others in designated categories will be eligible for free rides.
To encourage public adoption, passengers using the metro and its 17 connecting bus routes will enjoy free rides during the first 30 days of commercial operation.
The nearly 20-kilometer metro line features 11 elevated and three underground stations, connecting the city center to its eastern gateway. The project was approved in 2007 and construction work began in 2012 with an original budget of over VND17 trillion.
The project, initially scheduled for completion in 2018, faced repeated delays and cost overruns, ultimately raising its total cost to VND43.7 trillion. Despite these challenges, commercial operations are now set to commence at the end of this year.
