Passengers on Cát Linh-Hà Đông metro on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photos Hoàng Hiếu

HÀ NỘI — The Cát Linh-Hà Đông urban rail line in Hà Nội, the first metro project to be completed and running in Việt Nam, officially began commercial operations on November 21.

Vietnam News Agency reported no overcrowding issues or long lines like in previous days.

In the first 15 days of free ticket trials, 2,554 rides were conducted, serving 380,510 passengers, with an average of 25,000 a day, according to Vũ Hồng Trường, General Director of Metro Hà Nội.

The company has mobilised 100 more staff to guide passengers during the first days of commercial operations. It is planning to deploy a diverse range of services at the stations like ATMs, vending machines and some retail stores.

In the first six months of commercial operation of the metro line, trains will run from 5am to 11pm. Trains run every ten minutes and stop for 25-50 seconds at each station to pick up and drop off passengers.

An unlimited daily pass costs VNĐ30,000 (US$1.3) and a monthly pass costs VNĐ200,000 ($8), with various schemes for bulk purchases and specific groups like students or workers.

People are told to prepare notes smaller than VNĐ100,000 when purchasing tickets.

A view of the Yên Nghĩa Station on the metro line. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu