HCMC free bus pilot draws over 25 million passengers in three months

Ho Chi Minh City's free-fare bus pilot has attracted more than 25.5 million passengers on 134 routes between July 1 and September 19, 2026, according to Le Hoan, deputy director of the city's Public Transport Management Centre.

Ridership

That total is 47 percent higher than a year earlier, with daily ridership averaging about 315,975 trips. Growth sped up over the period:

• July: 8.56 million trips, up 40 percent year on year.
• August: 9.49 million trips, up 58 percent.
• Recent weeks: increases of 60 to 70 percent.

Some riders told the outlet they had switched from motorbikes to buses. One said the MultiGo app made checking routes easier, and another said improvements had addressed earlier worries about crowding.

New rules from October 1

The programme began on July 1 with free access for everyone through September 30. From October 1, passengers must use one of the following to keep riding free through December 31:

• a chip-based ID card
• VNeID
• a bank card
• an e-wallet
• the MultiGo app

The city is also upgrading infrastructure, including smart bus shelters with USB-C charging, and is studying dedicated bus lanes and bicycle services.

What it means for residents

Anyone planning to keep using the free buses after September 30 should set up one of the accepted methods beforehand, since boarding without one is no longer covered by the universal free access of the first three months. The offer is stated to run until December 31, so it is worth checking for updates as that date approaches.

Source: VietnamPlus.