The fare-free bus service Ho Chi Minh City launched on July 1 got off to a strong start, carrying about 1.32 million people in its first five days. It covers 134 city routes and runs through December 31. For travelers, it's a half-year in which the cost of getting around the city vanishes entirely; for residents, it lowers the fixed cost of commuting to work or school. The framework of the scheme itselfA pre-launch notice that 134 routes would become free from July<\/a>we told you earlier, but now the results \u2014 whether people actually moved \u2014 are in. Following the numbers, here's a practical rundown of when, on which routes, and how you can ride for free.<\/p>\n According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, the 134 fare-free routes carried about 1.32 million passengers in total over the first five days. On the first day, July 1, it was roughly 274,000, or 128% of the same day last year, rising to about 283,000 on July 3, reaching 135% year on year. Averaged over the five days, passenger numbers were up about 30% compared with the same period in 2025<\/p>\n City buses have long been a mode so underused it was mocked as 'carrying air.' That a simple move like free fares produced a 30% lift from the outset confirms price was the bottleneck for ridership. Even though fares were already cheap at 5,000 to 7,000 dong (about 30 to 42 yen, at 10,000 dong \u2252 60 yen), the gap from 'zero' was still big<\/p>\n This free-fare rollout is split into two phases. This division is what travelers should keep straight.<\/p>\n Phase 1 runs from July 1 to September 30. During this period no registration or identity verification is required at all\u2014even foreigners ride free simply by boarding and taking a seat. The city positions these three months as a transition period for passengers to get used to the electronic fare gates and onboard equipment. The buses have an electronic device called the T10, but Phase 1 does not require strict authentication<\/p>\n Phase 2 runs from October 1 to December 31. From here, riding free requires identity verification via one of the following: a chip-embedded ID card (CCCD), the VNeID app, a bank card, an e-wallet, or the MultiGo app. For short-term travelers the registration burden is heavy, and whether advance preparation is needed changes, soHow to prepare for the free buses, which require identity verification from October<\/a>It's safest to check it before you travel. Put another way, those visiting Saigon by September can most easily enjoy the benefit of free buses<\/p>\n Laying out the initial data released by the Department of Construction shows it taking hold day by day<\/p>\n1.32 million people in the first five days, over 30% above the same period last year<\/h2>\n
Ride Empty-Handed from July to September; Identity Verification from October<\/h2>\n
The early numbers: growth on day one and day three<\/h2>\n