According to the city's Public Transport Management Center, more than 1.32 million passenger trips were recorded on the subsidized routes during the first five days of the programme.
The figures show strong growth compared to the same period last year. On the first day of the policy, July 1, buses carried nearly 274,000 passengers, equivalent to 128% of the volume recorded a year earlier. Ridership peaked at almost 283,000 passengers on July 3, or 135% of the level seen on the same day in 2025.
Public buses stop at the Ham Nghi station in downtown HCMC on July 1, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung
Overall, the average passenger number during July 1-5 was about 30% higher than a year earlier.
Speaking at a meeting on July 6, Director of HCMC's Department of Construction Tran Quang Lam said the free-fare policy, introduced under the Party Committee's policy and a resolution of the municipal People's Council, has received strong public support.
