Ho Chi Minh City Aims for "One-Touch" Public Transport: Digitalization Push Follows Free Bus Success

Ho Chi Minh City is strengthening its efforts to improve public transport convenience. Following a significant increase in ridership due to its free bus program, the city is accelerating digitalization to achieve seamless integration between buses and the metro. From July 1 to August 7, 134 bus routes offering free rides served over 10.5 million passengers, a 42% increase compared to the same period last year. The average daily ridership reached 278,037, an increase of approximately 82,800 passengers per day. In parallel with attracting passengers, the city is proceeding with the digitalization of transport operations through the implementation of a public transport card. As of August 7, the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center had received 6,839 applications for the card, with 4,082 submitted online and 2,757 in person. This initiative aims to broaden citizens' transportation options and enhance overall urban mobility. The vision is to eventually enable a "one-touch" system where buses, the metro, and potentially other public transport modes can be accessed with a single card or app. This is part of Vietnam's broader efforts to modernize urban infrastructure and improve the quality of life for its citizens amidst rapid economic growth.