On February 4, Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company Limited No. 1 (HURC) said that the unit is implementing a free ticket program and adjusting the schedule of Metro Line No. 1 to serve the travel needs of people during the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026.
During 2 days of free tickets (February 16 and 17), passengers can use one of the following three forms to pass through the ticket gate:
Method 1: Scan the ID card or chip-sealed citizen ID card at the ticket gate.
Method 2: Use the QR code on the HCMC Metro HURC application, select the "QR HCMC Metro" function to create tickets and scan at the gate.
Method 3: Receive free paper tickets with QR codes at automatic kiosks and scan at the ticket gate.
HURC notes that during the free ticket period, passengers only use the above forms to travel by train. In case they still buy tickets as usual, the system will charge a fee and will not refund the amount paid.
The "QR HCMC Metro" function on the HCMC Metro HURC application will be activated from February 16 to the end of February 17, 2026.
In order to meet the increasing travel demand before, during and after Tet, Metro Line 1 will operate continuously from February 12 to February 22nd, 2026 (i.e. from December 25 of the year At Ty to the 6th day of the year Binh Ngo), with the following frequency:
From February 12 - 13 (December 25 - 26 of the lunar calendar): 249 train trips/day, running from 5am - 11pm, intervals 7 - 10 - 12 - 15 minutes/trip.
From February 14 - 15 (December 26 - 28 of the lunar calendar): 256 train trips/day, running from 5am - 11pm, intervals 7 - 8 - 10 - 12 - 15 minutes/trip.
February 16 (29th day of the twelfth lunar month): 250 train trips, running from 5am - 11pm, intervals 7 – 8 – 10 – 12 – 15 minutes/trip.
February 17 (the 1st day of Tet): Serving to welcome New Year's Eve fireworks (20 train trips) running from 0:30 - 2:00, interval of 6 minutes/trip. Daytime operation (251 train trips), running from 5:00 - 23:00, interval of 7 - 8 - 10 - 12 - 15 minutes/trip.
From February 18 - 22 (the 2nd - 6th day of Tet): 256 train trips/day, running from 5am - 11pm, intervals 7 - 8 - 10 - 12 - 15 minutes/trip.
Metro Line 1 is the first urban railway line of Ho Chi Minh City, nearly 20 km long, connecting the central area with the eastern gateway of the city.
After officially being put into operation from December 22, 2024, Metro Line 1 quickly attracted a large number of people to use, with an average traffic volume of more than 60,000 passengers per day.
To date, Metro Line 1 has served more than 20 million passengers, making an important contribution to reducing road traffic pressure and gradually forming the habit of using public transport in Ho Chi Minh City.
