First time in Ho Chi Minh City and worried about Grab getting stuck in traffic, or how much of a hassle it is to move between the sights?
Now that Metro Line 1 is open, Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House, Little Tokyo, Landmark 81 and Suoi Tien theme park are all far easier to reach.
This article covers the latest Ho Chi Minh metro map, operating hours, fares, how to buy tickets, a walkthrough of buying in the app, and the sights worth visiting along the line — everything you need to ride it.
📅 Last updated: 2026/06/16
🔗 Lanytrip compiled this from the transport questions independent travellers in Ho Chi Minh City ask most. Actual fares, app features and service information always follow the notices at the station and the latest official information.
Metro Line 1, also known as the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien line, is Ho Chi Minh City's first urban rail line in regular service, opened on 22 December 2024.
It runs about 19.7 kilometres with 14 stations, connecting Ben Thanh in the city centre all the way out to Suoi Tien.
It passes the Opera House, Ba Son, Tan Cang, Thao Dien, An Phu, Thu Duc and the National University area, and end to end the ride takes about 30 minutes at best.
For independent travellers, the metro not only avoids city traffic but also makes Landmark 81, Little Tokyo, Thao Dien and Suoi Tien theme park much easier to reach.
Metro Line 1 route map
Operating hours
Fares
How to buy tickets
Buying in the HCMC Metro app
Returning your IC card
Sights along the line
Getting around the city and beyond
FAQ
Is the Ho Chi Minh metro convenient? The pros and cons
If your plans centre on the city and the places along the line, the metro is genuinely convenient — especially for Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House, Little Tokyo, Landmark 81, Thao Dien and Suoi Tien, all of which Line 1 makes easier to string together.
| Upside | What it means |
|---|---|
| Avoids the traffic | Traffic in central Ho Chi Minh City is heavy at peak times; the metro cuts the time you spend stuck in it. |
| Cheap fares | Single fares are worked out by distance, from about 7,000 VND — good for short hops around the city. |
| Good for independent travel | It links several popular sights and neighbourhoods, and is easy to work out on a first visit. |
| Pairs with walking or a ride | Some sights still need a walk or a short ride from the station, so you can mix and match. |
| Small drawbacks | What it means |
|---|---|
| Only one line so far | It can't replace every kind of transport in the city. |
| No direct link to the airport | For Tan Son Nhat to the city, a transfer, taxi or ride-hailing is still the way to go. |
| No use for sights outside the city | Cu Chi Tunnels, the Mekong Delta, Mui Ne and Vung Tau still need a private car. |
Ho Chi Minh metro route map
Metro Line 1 starts at L1-01 Ben Thanh, runs through the city centre, the riverside area, the Thao Dien neighbourhood and Thu Duc, and ends at L1-14 Suoi Tien.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Line name | Ho Chi Minh Metro Line 1 / Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien line |
| Start | L1-01 Ben Thanh Station |
| End | L1-14 Suoi Tien Bus Station |
| Length | About 19.7 km |
| Stations | 14 in total |
| End-to-end time | About 30 minutes |
Ho Chi Minh metro operating hours
The metro runs roughly from 05:00 to 22:00, with the interval between trains varying between peak and off-peak.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operating hours | 05:00–22:00 |
| Peak interval | About 8 minutes |
| Off-peak interval | About 12 minutes |
Ho Chi Minh metro fares
As things stand on Line 1, fares are very reasonable. A single fare is calculated by distance, roughly 7,000–20,000 VND in cash; paying through the app or by another cashless method may take about 1,000 VND off some ticket types. *1,000 VND is roughly NT$1.2.
| Ticket | Indicative fare | Who it suits | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | About 7,000–20,000 VND. App or cashless purchase may save about 1,000 VND | Travellers making only 1–2 trips | Same day |
| 1-day pass | About 40,000 VND | Anyone making several metro trips in a day | Same day |
| 3-day pass | About 90,000 VND | Travellers on a 3-day trip around the city | 3 days |
| Monthly pass | About 300,000 VND | Long stays, business travellers | 30 days |
How to buy Ho Chi Minh metro tickets
The usual options are the ticket counter, the electronic ticket machine, the automatic ticket machine, and buying in the HCMC Metro app. On a first ride, the counter or a machine is the easiest; if you would rather not hold a paper ticket, the app generates a QR code you scan at the gate.
| Where you buy | Payment | Ticket format | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket counter | As the counter allows | Contactless paper ticket or card | First-time riders unfamiliar with the process |
| Electronic ticket machine | Cashless, including international credit cards | Contactless paper ticket | Travellers without change who want to buy quickly |
| Automatic ticket machine | Cash, debit card, e-wallet | Physical IC ticket | Travellers who want the full ticketing experience |
| HCMC Metro app | International credit card, Vietnamese e-wallet | QR code e-ticket | Travellers who want to go paperless and scan straight in |
At the ticket counter
The counter is the simplest: go to the ticket window in the station and buy from the staff, and you can ask about stations, fares or connections while you are there. If it is your first metro ride here and the machines look unfamiliar, the counter is the hardest thing to get wrong.
At an electronic ticket machine
Some electronic machines in the stations take international credit cards, and issue a contactless paper ticket once you are done. This suits travellers who don't want to carry a lot of change or deal with a card deposit.
At an automatic ticket machine
The automatic machines take cash, debit cards and e-wallets. Choose your destination and the number of tickets, pay, and you get a physical IC ticket. *Note: physical IC tickets on the Ho Chi Minh metro have to be returned.
Buying a physical ticket, step by step
- Select your destination station on the machine.
- Select the number of tickets.
- Confirm the fare and the payment method.
- Pay by cash, card or QR code.
- Take your IC ticket or paper ticket and go through the gate.
Buying tickets in the HCMC Metro app
The HCMC Metro app is one of the paperless options the operator is pushing. Once you are in the purchase flow you choose a single ticket or a multi-day pass; after payment the ticket appears as a QR code, which you scan on the way in and out.
Download HCMC Metro for iOS Download HCMC Metro for Android
| App name | HCMC Metro HURC |
| Tickets available | Single tickets, multi-day passes and more — whatever the app shows is what applies |
| Payment | International credit card, Vietnamese e-wallet |
| Getting through the gate | After payment a QR code appears; scan it at the gate |
| Note | Paying with an international credit card may require an SMS verification from your bank, so keep your home SIM able to receive messages. |
Buying in the app, step by step
Get the iOS or Android version for your phone; downloading and setting it up before you travel is worth doing.
In the purchase screen, pick a single ticket, a 1-day pass, a 3-day pass or whichever suits.
Select your departure station, destination and the number of tickets.
If you are paying with an international credit card, make sure your phone can receive your bank's verification SMS.
Once payment goes through, tap the ticket and the QR code appears — scan it on the way in and out.
The app purchase flow in pictures
The screens below show the actual purchase flow. The iOS and Android interfaces are broadly the same, so follow the steps to complete your purchase.
Step 1｜Register an account
Step 2｜Choose your ticket type
Step 3｜Choose your departure station
Step 4｜Choose your destination station
Step 5｜Choose a payment method
Step 6｜Enter your card details
Step 7｜View your ticket
Step 8｜Get your QR code
Returning your Ho Chi Minh metro IC card
If you bought a physical IC ticket from an automatic machine, remember to return it after your ride. Unlike a token that the gate swallows on the way out, the Ho Chi Minh metro's physical IC tickets stay with you — to get the deposit back, use the card return function at a ticket machine after you exit.
Returning a card, step by step
On the machine's home screen, select "Card Return".
Follow the on-screen instructions to insert your IC ticket.
Once the machine has verified the card, you get your deposit back according to the rules in force at the station.
Sights along the Ho Chi Minh metro
On a first independent trip to Ho Chi Minh City you don't need to get off at every station. These are the stations and the sights around them most worth planning for, and the areas most independent travellers head to.
📍 Ben Thanh Station
Nearby: Ben Thanh Market, the Independence Palace, Takashimaya, Saigon Centre
Ben Thanh Market is the city's signature traditional market, good for souvenirs and local snacks;
the Independence Palace was once the presidential palace of South Vietnam, and keeps its historic rooms and underground command centre;
Takashimaya and Saigon Centre are popular malls full of international brands and restaurants — worth a slow half day.
🏛️ Opera House Station
Nearby: the Opera House, City Hall, the Central Post Office, the Cafe Apartment
The Opera House is one of the city's landmark French colonial buildings;
City Hall is elegant from the outside and a popular photo stop;
the Central Post Office was designed by a French architect and is still in service;
the Cafe Apartment is packed with characterful cafes and small shops — the place to feel Saigon's slower side.
🌃 Ba Son Station
Nearby: Little Tokyo, Ba Son Bridge, the riverside walk
Little Tokyo is full of Japanese restaurants, izakaya and characterful bars;
Ba Son Bridge crosses the Saigon River with a view of the skyline;
the riverside walk is good for strolling, running and the night view — a spot locals and travellers both use.
🏙️ Tan Cang Station
Nearby: Landmark 81, Vincom Landmark 81
Landmark 81 is Vietnam's tallest skyscraper, looking out over the Ho Chi Minh City skyline;
Vincom Landmark 81 combines a shopping centre, restaurants and entertainment — a popular local landmark for leisure and shopping.
☕ Thao Dien Station
Nearby: characterful cafes, international restaurants, concept stores
Thao Dien is full of distinctive cafes, international restaurants and stylish concept stores. The neighbourhood is relaxed, home to many expats, and a popular place for travellers to slow down and wander.
🎡 Suoi Tien Station
Nearby: Suoi Tien theme park, the Hung Kings cultural park
Suoi Tien combines rides, a water park and Vietnamese cultural themes — good for families;
the Hung Kings historical and cultural park is themed around Vietnamese history and legend, and gives a deeper look at local culture.
Metro Line 1 links a lot of the city's popular sights, but for places it doesn't reach — the Cu Chi Tunnels, Mui Ne, the Mekong Delta, Vung Tau — a private car saves far more time.
Lanytrip also offers Ho Chi Minh airport transfers and Ho Chi Minh private car day tours, which suit first-time visitors, families and larger groups.
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Further reading
If you are planning an independent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, these articles round out the picture — transport, arrival and food.
🚗 Ho Chi Minh City private car day tours
The metro is convenient in the city, but for the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Mekong Delta or Vung Tau,
a private car with a driver is the easiest way, and saves a lot of travel time.
🍽️ Michelin restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
From one-star restaurants to Bib Gourmand picks —
a list of Ho Chi Minh City food worth saving, so you never have to wonder where to eat.
🍜 Vietnamese street food worth trying
Pho, banh mi, Vietnamese coffee and desserts, all in one place.
Easy to find something worth trying even on a first trip to Vietnam.
📝 How to fill in the SGN online arrival card
How do you complete the arrival card for Tan Son Nhat?
The declaration process, the steps and the common questions — easy to complete on a first trip to Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh metro FAQ
Which Ho Chi Minh metro line is it?
The one independent travellers use most is Metro Line 1. Also called the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien line, it runs from Ben Thanh station out to Suoi Tien.
What time does the Ho Chi Minh metro run until?
The metro runs roughly from 05:00 to 22:00. The actual times always follow the notices at the station.
How much does the Ho Chi Minh metro cost?
A single fare is roughly 7,000–20,000 VND. A 1-day pass is about 40,000 VND and a 3-day pass about 90,000 VND.
Can I buy Ho Chi Minh metro tickets in an app?
Yes — you can buy through the HCMC Metro HURC app. After paying you scan a QR code in and out; the ticket types and payment methods available are whatever the app shows.
How do I get my metro card deposit back?
If you bought a physical IC ticket, go to a ticket machine after exiting and choose Card Return. Insert the card and follow the instructions on screen to collect your deposit.
Which popular sights can I reach on the Ho Chi Minh metro?
Metro Line 1 reaches Ben Thanh Market, the Ho Chi Minh Opera House, Little Tokyo, Landmark 81, Thao Dien and Suoi Tien theme park, among others.
Does the Ho Chi Minh metro go to Tan Son Nhat airport?
Metro Line 1 does not currently reach Tan Son Nhat airport. To get from the airport into the city, use an airport transfer, a taxi or a ride-hailing service.
Is the Ho Chi Minh metro suitable for a first independent trip?
Yes. As long as your plans centre on the city and the sights along the line, the metro is simpler than hailing rides all day and cuts the time you spend in traffic.
