On the morning of January 21, Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) officially began its fare collection phase after a month of free trial operation. This event has drawn significant attention from city residents, especially office workers, students, and university learners.
Ticket Purchase Process and Payment Methods
Passengers using Metro Line 1 can purchase tickets at stations with various flexible payment options. Specifically, you can pay with cash or use bank cards like Mastercard and Visa. Additionally, long-term tickets such as daily, 3-day, and monthly passes can be purchased via the HCMC Metro app.
Ticket prices range from 7,000 VND to 20,000 VND per trip when paying with cash. If using cashless methods, the price slightly decreases, ranging from 6,000 VND to 19,000 VND. Meanwhile, a daily pass costs 40,000 VND, a 3-day pass is 90,000 VND, and a monthly pass for regular passengers is 300,000 VND. Notably, students only need to pay 150,000 VND for a monthly pass. All these prices include passenger insurance.
User Feedback
On the first day of fare collection, many passengers expressed satisfaction with the service quality and reasonable ticket prices. Mrs. Nguyen Ton Nu Diem Tien (53 years old, Thu Duc City) shared: “I traveled from Binh Thai Station to the City Theater Station for less than 20,000 VND. At this price, I think it’s a very suitable option for everyone.”
However, long queues for purchasing tickets were still observed at some major stations like the underground Ben Thanh Station. Many people had to wait over 15 minutes to complete the process of buying paper tickets.
Fare Exemptions and Discounts
To ensure social equity, Metro Line 1 offers free rides for certain special groups, including war veterans, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and children under 6 years old. Free rides are facilitated through priority cards or national ID cards.
Benefits of Using Metro Line 1
Metro Line 1 is not only an affordable mode of transportation but also provides an enjoyable experience for passengers. With a total length of 19.7 km, this metro line connects District 1’s center with eastern areas like Binh Thanh and Thu Duc City. Passengers can enjoy views of the city’s landmarks as the train passes through elevated stations.
Conclusion
The official start of fare collection for Metro Line 1 marks a significant step forward in HCMC’s public transportation system. With reasonable pricing, convenient ticketing processes, and numerous discount policies, this metro line promises to become the top choice for daily commuters. Experience it today to feel the difference!
Source: Dan Tri
