25/11/2024
On December 22, 2024, the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line will officially come into operation. The article below will provide details on each stage of project development, from groundbreaking to preparation for operation, along with information on infrastructure, schedules and ticket prices. This is a useful source of information for those interested in this new form of public transport, aiming to reduce traffic and improve the quality of life in the city.
Overview of Ho Chi Minh City Metro project
Ho Chi Minh City's public transport system is gradually modernizing with the appearance of the metro system. Currently, the city is deploying 8 metro lines, including:
Map of 8 Metro lines in Ho Chi Minh City
Explore the panoramic view of 14 stations on Metro Line 1 from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien
Of which, the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien and Ben Thanh - Tham Luong lines are being implemented, the remaining lines are being promoted for investment.
The total length of these metro lines is up to 169km, along with a 12.8km tram line and 2 43.7km monorail lines. The large scale of this system promises to bring a new look to urban traffic, reduce pressure on arterial roads and contribute to improving the quality of life of the people.
Metro Line 1 project, with a length of nearly 20km and a total investment of more than VND 43,700 billion, is the first urban railway project in Ho Chi Minh City. This project not only connects the city center with the eastern gateway but also opens a new chapter in modernizing the city's public transport system. With a total route length of 19.7km, including underground and elevated sections, this metro line connects the city center with the Suoi Tien tourist area, creating an important traffic axis, shortening travel time and reducing traffic pressure on major routes.
The project started construction in August 2012 and was invested up to 2.491 billion USD, mainly funded by Japan (JICA). With the Long Binh Depot area of 20 hectares, this metro line also has the potential to expand in the future, with the orientation of extending from Suoi Tien station to Binh Duong and Bien Hoa city, contributing to the completion of the public transport system of the Southeast region. In addition, Korean experts also contributed significantly to the transfer of technology and training of human resources for the project.
Before officially being put into operation, Metro Line 1 has undergone many testing phases to ensure safety and efficiency. These testing phases include short-distance testing, full-line testing, and testing with public participation. After nearly a month of testing at 20% of the design capacity, the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line has moved to a larger-scale testing phase, simulating almost complete commercial operations. Trains run continuously from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day, with a high frequency, averaging from 4 minutes 30 seconds to 10 minutes per trip. To ensure safety and service quality, the metro line has been tested through 47 different scenarios, including emergency situations, helping the system and operating staff to be ready to respond to all situations. Experts from the BVT consortium will directly participate in the process of monitoring and evaluating the capacity of HURC1 staff. The goal of this process is to ensure that all employees are proficient in operating procedures and ready to respond to any situation that arises.
Detailed map of Metro line 1
Metro Line No. 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien, with a total length of 19.7 km, of which 2.6 km is underground and 17.1 km is elevated, and passes through districts 1, 2, 9, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc and Di An (Binh Duong). The train stations are designed to be modern and convenient, meeting the needs of passengers. In addition, the rail and bridge systems are also built according to international standards, ensuring high quality and durability.
This metro line starts from Ben Thanh station, passes through Le Loi, Nguyen Sieu, Ngo Van Nam, Ton Duc Thang, Ba Son, Nguyen Huu Canh, Van Thanh, Dien Bien Phu, Saigon bridge, Hanoi highway and ends at Long Binh Depot, District 9. With a total of 14 stations, including 3 underground stations (Ba Son -> City Theater -> Ben Thanh) and 11 elevated stations, connecting the city center with inner-city districts and expanding to suburban areas. The Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line, starting from the city center and ending at Long Binh depot, Thu Duc city, is equipped with 17 modern trains. Each train can carry up to 930 passengers, including 147 seats and 783 standing positions. With a maximum speed of 110 km/h on the expressway and 80 km/h in the tunnel, this metro line promises to bring a fast and convenient travel experience to passengers.
Main Stations Metro
Ben Thanh Station
Ben Thanh Station is not only the starting point of Metro Line 1 but also an important transportation hub, connecting many other metro lines and the city center. With 6 entrances and exits, Ben Thanh Station will become a convenient transit point for passengers. In particular, floors B1 and B2 are currently serving Metro Line 1, while floors B3 and B4 are designed to serve Metro Line 2 in the future. This shows the long-term vision and important role of Ben Thanh Station in the city's public transportation system.
With a unique architectural highlight, the lotus-shaped skylight with a diameter of 21.6m and a height of 6m is a source of natural light for Ben Thanh Station. Built with a total of 6 entrances and exits, Ben Thanh Station will be an important transportation hub, connecting other metro lines and the city center. In the future, Ben Thanh station will become the intersection of 4 metro lines, facilitating people's travel.
Opera House Station
Continuing the journey from Ben Thanh Station, you will arrive at Opera House Underground Station - one of the ideal stops in the city center. With a length of 190m, a width of 26m and a depth of 30m, Opera House Underground Station is an impressive architectural work. The modern design, along with a sophisticated lighting system, creates a luxurious and airy space. The station has 4 floors, each floor is scientifically arranged, ensuring convenience for passengers. From the 1st floor with modern amenities such as waiting rooms, ticket machines to the 2nd floor - where the trains stop, all are designed to optimize the passenger experience.
Ba Son Station
Located in the center of the Saigon - Ba Son complex, Ba Son underground station is another important stop on the metro line. With a length of 240m, a width of more than 34m and a depth of 20m, Ba Son underground station is a massive and modern architectural work. The first floor of the station with an area of over 8,000m², is designed in a delicate white tone and the ceiling is decorated with unique curved steel patterns, creating a space that is both modern and cozy. This is the waiting area with ticket machines, automatic toll gates and an information room. The ticket control area is located right at the entrance, helping passengers move conveniently. The second floor is the platform area, where passengers get on and off the train.
There are a total of 14 stations, including 11 elevated stations on Metro Line 1 and 3 underground metro stations.
Explore the panoramic view of 14 stations on Metro Line 1 from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien
From Van Thanh station to Suoi Tien station, all stations have a steel dome design and heat-resistant roofing, creating a modern and unified architecture. However, Tan Cang station stands out with 4 train lanes, different from other stations that only have 2 lanes, demonstrating a long-term vision of becoming an important transit point in the future. In particular, under Thao Dien, Binh Thai, Rach Chiec and Van Thanh stations, there are also parking lots for motorbikes, taxis and buses, creating maximum convenience for passengers. The last station is located in front of the new Mien Dong bus station (later Long Binh depot). This area is expected to become more bustling when Metro Line 1 officially comes into operation and connects with passengers at the new Mien Dong bus station.
Pedestrian bridges connecting Metro Line 1 stations
To serve the travel needs of the people, the city has built 9 pedestrian bridges along Metro Line 1 at Tan Cang, Thao Dien, An Phu, Rach Chiec, Phuoc Long, Binh Thai, Thu Duc, High-Tech Park and National University stations. These bridges are built across Vo Nguyen Giap Avenue - Hanoi Highway, connecting to the transit floor of the station. The length of each bridge ranges from 80 to 150 m, about 3.5 m wide and nearly 5 m high depending on the specific location. Together with the green tree system on both sides, the pedestrian bridges create a cool, modern and friendly green space. The installation of elevators at the pedestrian bridges will help everyone, including the elderly and the disabled, easily access the metro system, contributing to creating a friendly public transport system.
Metro Line Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Schedule and Ticket Prices
Before starting the metro journey, Ms. Van Thi Huu Tam, Deputy Director of Urban Railway Company No. 1, recommends that passengers should regularly update information on the company's website and mobile application. Knowing the schedule, ticket prices and stops will help passengers plan their travel in the most convenient and effective way. Ms. Tam also suggests that passengers should bring their phones to look up information, view route maps and use modern electronic payment services.
Metro Line No. 1 will officially operate from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day, with a frequency of 4 minutes 30 seconds to 10 minutes/trip. Train tickets will officially go on sale from November 21, 2024, with prices ranging from 6,000 to 20,000 VND/trip depending on the distance and payment method. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just issued a Decision to promulgate fares for passenger transport services by train on urban railway line No. 1, Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien (metro line No. 1).
Fares include: single-trip fares, daily fares, 3-day fares, and monthly fares. Single-trip fares are divided into cash and non-cash fares. Unit of calculation is 1,000 VND/trip. Specifically, the 1-day fare is 40,000 VND/person/ticket/day (unlimited number of trips per day). The 3-day fare is 90,000 VND/person/ticket/3days (unlimited number of trips per 3 days). With monthly fares, ordinary passengers are 300,000 VND/person/ticket/month; students are 150,000 VND/person/ticket/month. All passengers who purchase monthly tickets are not limited to the number of trips per month. The above ticket price includes personal insurance for passengers using public passenger transport services by train on Metro Line 1.
People can choose to buy single tickets, daily tickets, monthly tickets or enjoy free incentives for some subjects. In particular, buying tickets becomes extremely simple and fast through the automatic ticket collection system, supporting cashless payments. During the first 30 days of Metro Line 1's commercial operation, all train passengers will be exempted from train tickets and 17 connecting bus routes.
With a journey of nearly 20km, Metro Line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien will take you to explore the city quickly and conveniently. From Long Binh Depot, the train will stop at 14 stations, including 11 elevated stations such as Suoi Tien Bus Station, National University and 3 underground stations such as Ba Son, City Theater. It only takes about 30-32 minutes, you can move from the suburbs to the city center.
The train will take you through 14 stations, starting from 11 elevated stations including: Suoi Tien Bus Station -> National University -> High-Tech Park -> Thu Duc -> Binh Thai -> Phuoc Long -> Rach Chiec -> An Phu -> Thao Dien -> Tan Cang -> Van Thanh Park, then the train will go down to 3 underground stations: Ba Son -> City Theater -> ending at Ben Thanh station.
With more than 99% of the progress completed, Metro Line 1 is in the final stage to be ready to serve passengers. Mr. Phan Cong Bang said that the remaining work such as acceptance and safety assessment is being accelerated. The MAUR Board and related units are working with great determination, the construction units are making every effort to complete all work before December 15, to ensure the plan to put the metro line into official commercial service on December 22, 2024. Accordingly, Metro Line 1 will be divided into two operational phases:
- Phase 1 (first 6 months), the train will operate 200 trips/day with 9 trains. Operating time is from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. The train interval during peak hours is 8 minutes and during normal hours is 12 minutes. During Tet holiday, the train schedule will still be implemented as above.
- Phase 2, it is expected to increase to 276 trips/day from Monday to Friday and 226 trips/day on weekends, holidays, and summer. Operating time is from 5:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The train interval during peak hours is 5-8 minutes/trip, during normal hours is 10 minutes/trip, and during off-peak hours is 15 minutes/trip.
The train takes 29 minutes with a route of about 19.7km, from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien (passing through 14 train stations).
At the stations where the train stops automatically according to the programme, the stopping time at the stations is 30 seconds to pick up and drop off passengers (including rush hours). After each trip, the train will be brought to Long Binh Depot (Thu Duc City) for maintenance, system inspection and train cleaning.
Train User Manual
Exploring the city quickly and conveniently has never been easier with Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro. With just a few simple steps, you can start your journey. Let's follow Achieve Realty VN to learn how to use the train easily!
Buy tickets
Currently, you have many diverse ticket options such as single tickets, daily tickets, monthly tickets to suit your travel needs. Each type of ticket will have a different price, depending on the distance and time of use. To buy tickets, you just need to find the automatic ticket machines available at all stations. The interface of the ticket machine is very friendly, supporting both Vietnamese and English, making it easy for you to operate. You just need to choose the ticket type, scan the card or pay cash to have the ticket in hand.
In addition, you can also buy tickets on the HCMC Metro application. The HCMC Metro application is a convenient "pass" that helps people and tourists easily travel by subway system. With a friendly interface, users can buy tickets, top up and manage their journey quickly. In particular, the QR code scanning feature and the connection with e-wallets such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay provide a modern and convenient payment experience. With just a few simple steps on the HCMC Metro application, you will have a QR code to confidently explore the city by subway. Click the "Go! Metro" button, the QR code will be generated immediately and ready for you to scan at the station entrance. This code is valid for 5 minutes, enough for you to scan at the ticket gate and start your journey.
Important note: After purchasing the ticket, keep the ticket carefully until the end of the journey. You will need to scan the ticket through the automatic control gate to enter and exit the station. The ticket is also proof for you to get support in case of need.
Find your station and board
At each station, there are clear signs and maps to help you quickly locate your location. After scanning your ticket through the automatic control gate, you are ready to board the train. Follow the electronic screen to know exactly where the next stop is and prepare to get off the train.
Get off the station
When you arrive at the station, look at the electronic screen to confirm your destination station. Then, stand near the door and prepare your ticket. Exit the station: When the train stops, get off and follow the signs to exit the station. If you are unsure of the direction, you can ask the station staff on duty.
Some other things to note
After finishing your trip, check your personal belongings and follow the signs to exit the station. Here, you can find many amenities such as public toilets, convenience stores and ATMs. Don't forget to maintain public hygiene and use a transportation card for more convenience. During rush hour, the station is often crowded, so be patient and keep a safe distance. If you need assistance, you can ask the station staff on duty.
The most convenient route to Metro
According to information from the Public Transport Management Center, Ho Chi Minh City is implementing a modern integrated public transport system to serve the travel needs of people and reduce traffic congestion. Specifically, along with the operation of the metro line, the city has been preparing to put into operation 17 feeder bus routes using fully electric buses. These bus routes will connect residential areas, commercial centers and metro stations, forming a seamless public transport network. In addition, to enhance connectivity in central areas, the city is also implementing a 4-wheel electric vehicle system and public bicycles at 3 major underground stations: Ba Son, Ben Thanh and City Theater.
The above-ground stations of the metro line are not only the end points of the journey but also multimodal transport centers. Here, people can easily connect with many different types of transportation such as technology motorbikes, taxis, and especially new bus routes, including the bus route connecting directly to Ho Chi Minh City National University. This diversity helps passengers save time and have many options to suit their needs. For the convenience of pedestrians, units have invested in building a modern pedestrian bridge system, connecting directly from residential areas, schools, hospitals to train stations. The walkways have also been renovated and expanded, ensuring ventilation and safety for pedestrians.
For bicycle and motorbike users, the city has arranged 5 large parking lots at the stations. This not only solves the problem of parking but also encourages people to use personal vehicles in combination with the metro to get to the city center. For example, people from Thu Duc City can easily park their vehicles at parking lots near the station, then take the metro to work in the central districts.
In the long term, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport is planning to expand the connection from the metro system to the water bus route by 2025. This will create a complete public transport network, connecting inner-city areas with suburban districts and neighboring provinces, contributing to reducing road traffic and protecting the environment.
In short, the birth of the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line, especially the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro Line 1, is a new chapter for public transport in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a modern means of transport and a driving force for sustainable urban development. In the near future, when the entire metro system is completed, along with synchronous connections with other types of public transport, Ho Chi Minh City will become a modern, civilized city, where travel becomes easier and more convenient than ever. Investing in the public transport system not only helps reduce traffic congestion and protect the environment, but also contributes to improving the quality of life of people, attracting investment and socio-economic development. Achieve Realty VN hopes to provide you with the most complete and useful information, helping you have the best experience when using the metro service, thereby contributing to reducing traffic congestion and protecting the environment.
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