Free bus service for all citizens: a major commitment from Ho Chi Minh City.
In an effort to strongly encourage people to use public transportation, Ho Chi Minh City plans to spend approximately 7,000 billion VND per year to provide free bus fares for all citizens.
At the 5th meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Executive Board held in early April 2026, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee unanimously agreed on the policy of providing free bus rides for all residents in the city.
This is seen as the most decisive move to date in implementing General Secretary To Lam's directive to definitively address traffic congestion and environmental pollution in the country's largest city.
Currently, the city spends approximately 1,700 billion VND per year to provide free tickets for priority groups (the elderly, children, and people with disabilities). When free tickets are extended to all citizens, the projected budget will increase 3.5 times, reaching 7,000 billion VND per year.
However, this figure is considered a "worthwhile investment." Ho Chi Minh City currently has a network of 1,780 buses, including 600 modern electric buses. According to the plan, the city will use special financial mechanisms to accelerate the proportion of electric buses, aiming for a green transportation ecosystem.
Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang assessed that the policy of free bus travel for all citizens not only helps reduce traffic pressure and improve the environment but also has social welfare significance, helping low-income people reduce transportation costs, while limiting the use of old, high-emission motorbikes.
The head of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee believes that for people to abandon motorbikes, buses must be attractive, convenient, and punctual. Therefore, in addition to free fares, the city will improve service quality and expand the route network. The Department of Construction has been tasked with replanning the system to be more efficient and enhance the passenger experience.
Alongside breakthroughs in transportation, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee has agreed on the policy of waiving border gate infrastructure fees to share the pressure of fuel costs and support businesses in recovering production and business more strongly.
Regarding social welfare, the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee instructed the Health sector to finalize a plan within the next two weeks to organize regular health check-ups and screenings for nearly 15 million people in 2026. This is a concrete step to implement the spirit of Resolution 72, placing public health at the center of development.
In addition, the urban landscape will be improved by accelerating the renovation of long-standing dilapidated residential areas such as Ma Lang or the Chicken Market - Rice Market area, combined with the development of flexible social housing models for workers.
To lay a solid foundation for these changes, Ho Chi Minh City is urgently reviewing Resolution 31 and proposing the development of a Law on Special Urban Areas, hoping to create a breakthrough legal framework that unlocks the potential for the city's next phase of development.
