After 12 years of construction and 17 years of planning, Vietnam's largest city, Ho Chi Minh, inaugurated its first subway line, Metro Line 1, on Sunday. According to the state-run Viet Nam News agency, hundreds of citizens lined up to be among the first passengers to use this new means of public transport.
The line, which includes 14 stations – three underground and 11 above ground – stretches from Ben Thanh Market in the city center to Soui Tien Park on the northwestern edge of the city. The subway is expected to help reduce traffic in this overcrowded city of about 9 million people.
The opening of the line was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and financial constraints. At the inauguration ceremony, city official Bui Xuan Cuong called it a milestone for the city's public transportation.
Tickets will be free for the first month, while after this period, prices will range from 7,000 to 20,000 dong (27 to 79 cents), depending on the distance. Seniors and disabled people will travel for free, while students and users of electronic payment applications will benefit from reduced fares.
The metro will run every day from 5 am to 10 pm and will be connected with new electric buses.
Meanwhile, Japan invested $1.72 billion in the project, but the Chinese-backed subway system in Hanoi managed to open first, in 2021. Vietnam also plans to build other subway lines and high-speed trains connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and with China. (A2 Televizion)
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