Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line serves over 10 million passengers after 6 months of operation
As of June 14, Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City had recorded over 9.997 million passengers and the number is estimated to have surpassed the 10-million mark to date – just six months after commencing operations.
A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited, the operator of the metro line, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the passenger volume has far exceeded initial expectations, reaching 148.83 percent of the target for the first half of 2025.
The number of train trips reached 34,626, achieving 100.3 percent of the schedule.
On average, the metro line serves 57,785 passengers daily. On weekdays, it handles around 50,423 passengers, while on weekends the number spikes to 76,414.
Train frequency has remained consistent since operations began on December 22, 2024, with a train every eight minutes during peak hours.
Nine trains operate in rotation, providing convenient transit for commuters.
Metro line No. 1 is gradually becoming a familiar part of daily life for Ho Chi Minh City residents.
Stations such as Ben Thanh, Opera House, Thao Dien, An Phu, and Suoi Tien are particularly popular.
It is common to see groups of young people, families with children, and older adults using the metro as either a primary means of transportation or a weekend leisure activity.
“We no longer worry about traffic jams or the heat. Every weekend we take the metro to the city center for coffee or to take our kids out,” said Tran Thi My Linh, a resident in Thu Duc City, a district-level unit under Ho Chi Minh City, after getting off the train at Ben Thanh underground station on June 14.
Many families from other provinces also bring their children to experience the metro during summer vacation, often combining their rides with visits to nearby attractions such as the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, shopping malls, or Suoi Tien Theme Park.
Safety advice for children on metro rides
With the number of children using the metro increasing during the summer, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited has advised parents to ensure the safety of their children.
Children should not run, hang onto handrails, lean on train doors, or touch equipment without supervision.
Parents are urged to keep a close eye on their children at all times to prevent accidents or separation.
Extra caution should be taken when boarding and exiting the train, especially regarding the gap between the train and the platform.
Passengers are also encouraged to maintain cleanliness, dispose of waste properly, and contribute to a clean, civilized metro environment.
The city’s first metro line spans 19.7 kilometers, including 2.6 kilometers of underground rail and 17.1 kilometers of elevated track, built at a total cost of US$1.8 billion.
Construction on the metro line project began in 2012, and the system operates with 17 trains, each capable of carrying 930 passengers.
By Thanh Ha & Chau Tuan – Tuoi Tre News – June 16, 2025