On July 6, Hanoi began accepting registrations for a new electronic bus card embedded with an IC chip, aimed at priority passengers who can ride buses free. Applications are made through the website “vedientuonline.com.vn,” with the first cards to be issued July 26–31. In the city, paper monthly passes were abolished on July 1, moving fare collection sharply to digital. For Japanese residents and business travelers in Hanoi, this is a milestone to sort out “who rides free” and “how to ride now that there’s no paper.” The full picture of fare-free service in the city center isAn article on the scheme making buses in central Hanoi free for a yearwe covered that there, but this time we focus on the 'card switchover' underway beneath it.
Registration for the free IC card, which began July 6
What moved this time is a refresh of the physical cards for "priority passengers" whose fares are fully waived. It's operated by the Hanoi Public Transport Management and Operation Center (1 Kim Ma Street, Giang Vo). It replaces the old chip-less free cards with ones embedded with an IC chip that can do identity authentication and distance calculation.
Behind this is the digitalization of Hanoi’s public transit that began on June 25. In a system premised on a smartphone virtual card, elderly people without a device risk being left behind. Aiming mainly at that group, the city has separately prepared a physical card they can use in hand. Existing chipless cards can be used alongside it through December 31, 2026, so the design leaves no need to rush the switch.
Who's eligible, and can Japanese residents use it?
Who qualifies to ride the bus for free, and what they need for it, varies by status. People aged 60 and over and children under 6 can board as is with an IC-chip ID (căn cước) or a virtual card. Wounded veterans, people with revolutionary merit, people with disabilities, and those from low-income households either use a virtual card or apply for the new physical IC card.
| Card types | Main eligibility | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual card (smartphone) | Eligible people with a smartphone, generally | Register in the app and scan |
| ID (căn cước) linkage | 60 and over, under 6 | Tap your chip-embedded ID directly |
| Physical card with IC chip | Military personnel, people of merit, people with disabilities, low-income households, and elderly people without a device | Apply and get issued, then tap with the card |
What Japanese residents should note here is that this free card assumes a Vietnamese citizen ID (căn cước công dân) and exemption eligibility. It isn't a scheme where foreigners can apply for a priority-passenger free card. That said, as described below, the fare exemption on segments running within Ring Road 1 applies to all passengers regardless of nationality.
The Practicalities from Application to Receipt
Assuming you fit the criteria, or you're helping family or workplace staff with the procedure, here's the application flow at a glance.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | From July 6, 2026 |
| Application site | vedientuonline.com.vn |
| Required documents | Photos of the front and back of the citizen ID plus a photo of your face |
| First-time card issuance | July 26–31, 2026 |
| Issued from | 5 to 10 days from acceptance of a valid application |
| How to receive it | Pick up at the center's counter (1 Kim Ma Street), or have it delivered to your registered address (shipping per the carrier's rates) |
| Old card expiry | Chipless free cards are valid through December 31, 2026 |
Being able to choose either counter pickup or home delivery is a consideration for elderly people who have trouble getting around. Delivery fees are said to follow the courier's rules, and no specific amount has been published.The move making identity verification mandatory on Ho Chi Minh City's free busesthe trend of tying identity verification to free rides as well is advancing across Vietnam.
Scrapping paper passes and "free inside Ring Road 1"
The renewal of priority passengers’ cards is part of a bigger institutional change. On July 1, Hanoi abolished paper monthly passes and shifted fares fully to e-ticketing. Commuters who rode on paper passes now need to switch to a virtual card or a linked e-ticket.
From the same July 1, bus fares for sections running inside Ring Road 1 (Vành đai 1) became free until June 30, 2027. Eligibility is not limited to priority passengers but covers all riders, with tourist buses excluded. Not the whole route but only the distance actually traveled inside Ring Road 1 is free, with the outer sections at normal fare. The distance is calculated automatically by the electronic ticket.
The city goes this far to prepare the ground for a low-emission zone and gasoline-vehicle restrictions planned within Ring Road 1. The plan is to play the free-fare card first as an incentive to shift riders from motorbikes to buses, then tighten the screws on cars afterward. The real shape of the zone rulesHow to Navigate the Low-Emission Zone Trial That Clears Cars from the Old Town on Weekendssums it up.
What it means for residents and business travelers
This series of changes raises three points for Japanese people living and working in Hanoi.
First,Rethinking travel premised on paper. Now that the paper monthly pass is gone, moving to e-tickets is unavoidable if you keep commuting by bus. A virtual card assumes registering an app on your phone, and depending on your SIM or identity-verification situation it can take some effort. If you use the bus daily, it's safest to check your pass balance and switchover steps early.
Second,Don't Misread Where "Free" Draws the Linethe point. Everyone rides free only for distance traveled within Ring Road 1; sections heading out to the suburbs are charged. It's a different mechanism from the full waiver for priority passengers, and what foreigners can receive is basically the former benefit. The summary "all Hanoi buses are now free" tends to make the rounds, but the actual scope is finely split by distance and route type.
Third,Practical support for elderly family members and employeesis that. For households accompanying Vietnamese relatives or businesses employing elderly staff, this free card translates into real household and welfare benefits. The application site is in Vietnamese and requires photographing an ID and uploading a face photo. If those around them lock in the issuance schedule from July 26 and help on behalf of a person unaccustomed to digital tools, the switch goes smoothly.
The scheme's basics
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| System name | Hanoi: Free Chip IC Bus Card for Priority Passengers |
| Operator | Hanoi Public Transport Management and Operation Center (1 Kim Ma Street, Giang Vo) |
| Registration opens | July 6, 2026 |
| First-time card issuance | July 26–31, 2026 |
| Fare-free within Ring Road 1 | July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (tourist buses excluded; all riders eligible) |
| Abolition of the paper pass | July 1, 2026 |
| Expiry of the old card | December 31, 2026 |
Summary
This summer, Hanoi's buses met two shifts at once: "paper to digital" and "paid to partly free." The free IC card for priority passengers is the symbol, and while eligibility is limited to the elderly, honored citizens, and the like, the free fare within Ring Road 1 applies to everyone, residents and travelers included. Three things to check next. If you use the bus daily, get an e-ticket to replace the paper pass within July. Confirm, on an actual ride, that the free section is limited to distance traveled within Ring Road 1. And if you have elderly family, help them apply in line with issuance from July 26. The scheme runs through June 2027, so sorting it out once leaves plenty of time.
Sources
- Ha Noi issues free chip-embedded bus passes for priority passengers（Nhan Dan）
- Hanoi opens registration for free chip-enabled bus cards from July 6（Vietnam Plus）
- Ha Noi issues chip-embedded transport cards to passengers eligible for free fares（Viet Nam News）
- Ha Noi to provide free bus travel within Ring Road 1（Nhan Dan）
- Free bus fares expected to encourage shift away from private vehicles（Vietnam Plus）
