Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line No. 1 officially opens

According to Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Co., Ltd., the operator of line, 14 stations are now open.

In the following days, the stations are open from 5am to 10pm. every day, with trains running every 8 to 12 minutes. There are 31 bus routes connecting to the Metro Line No. 1.

Apart from private vehicles transferring to stations, passengers have other options, such as using public bicycles in the lots around underground metro stations in District 1, using 4-wheeled electric buggies at three underground stations (Ben Thanh, City Theatre and Ba Son), and river buses.

Private vehicles can be left at stations in car parks in 23/9 Park, Van Thanh Park, Thao Dien, and Suoi Tien, and walking bridges are available at Tan Cang, Thao Dien, Thu Duc and Saigon Hi-Tech Park and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

At the opening ceremony, Phan Cong Bang, head of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, said that the Metro Line 1 had a total length of 19.7km, with 14 stations. The venture uses official development assistance capital from the Japanese government and domestic counterpart capital, approved in April 2007.

Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam Ito Naoki said that Metro Line 1 was Japan's largest official development assistance loan for Vietnam.

“I would like to express my respect and appreciation for Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board and the Japanese companies that implemented this project,” Naoki said.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong acknowledged that Metro Line No. 1 was not only a modern urban transportation scheme, but also a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City's growth, integration and sustainable development.

“This initiative marks an important milestone in realising public transportation system planning, meeting the needs of people to move quickly, contributing to reducing traffic pressure and environmental pollution. This journey is not only proof of the persistent efforts of the city government, but also demonstrates the effective cooperation between Vietnam and Japan,” Cuong said.

After the free period, passengers can buy tickets for VND40,000 ($1.66) per person per day, with no limit on trips. The 3-day ticket price is VND $3.75.

A monthly ticket price is $12.50 per person. Students are charged half.

The Metro iine No. 1 has 17 trains with a length of more than 60 metres, each train has three cars, accommodating 930 passengers (147 sitting passengers and 783 standing passengers).

In the first phase, on average, there are nine trains operating every day, running from 5am to 10pm with about 200 trips.

It takes about 30 minutes for the distance from Suoi Tien Terminal (near Mien Dong New Bus Station, Thu Duc city) to Ben Thanh in District 1.

Japan and Vietnam high-ranking officials open the Metro Line No.1 of Ho Chi Minh City on December 22

Nguyen Minh Vu, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke at the commercial operation ceremony of the Metro Line No. 1

Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam Ito Naoki

High-ranking officials on board

Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, Japanese Ambassador ITO Naoki and delegates visited and experienced the Metro Line No. 1

First passengers on the Metro Line No.1 on December 22

The youngest passenger on board

Thousands of people line up to travel on the Metro Line No. 1 on December 22

Metro line 1 nears operation The first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City, linking Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien in Thu Duc, could be in operation by the end of the year.

Metro lines push up real estate prices Despite the nationwide real estate market experiencing difficulties, the apartment segment surrounding metro lines in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi has seen a sharp increase in prices.

Metro Line 1 begins trial runs at full capacity The first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City, linking Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien in Thu Duc, is conducting trial runs at full capacity from November 11 to 17.