A passenger train operates along the elevated section of metro line No. 1 between Bến Thành Market and Suối Tiên Theme Park in HCM City. Urban rail serves as the backbone of the city’s green transit-oriented development strategy. — VNS Photos Nguyễn Diệp

Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — HCM City is accelerating the modernisation of its public transportation network by integrating zero-emission electric buses, urban rail, river buses, and micro-mobility into a seamless and data-driven ecosystem.

Guided by strategic digital transformation frameworks, the southern economic hub is transitioning from traditional operations to a smart transit network that prioritises environmental sustainability, high operational efficiency, and multi-modal connectivity.

A zero-emission electric bus picks up passengers at a bus stop in HCM City. The southern economic hub is accelerating its green transition, aiming for 100 per cent clean-energy public transit by 2030

At the core of this transformation is a comprehensive digital architecture.

At the Public Transport Management Centre in HCM City, real-time data from GPS, electronic transport orders (eLVC), onboard cameras, and validation devices feed directly into automated management systems such as eBMS and GoAFC.

A Saigon Waterbus is docked at the Bạch Đằng Station in HCM City. The city’s waterway transit is seamlessly integrated with bus and metro routes through the MultiGo app, promoting eco-friendly urban mobility.

More than 100 subsidised bus routes now operate via electronic transport orders, allowing dispatchers to monitor vehicle trajectories, analyse timetables, and resolve incidents dynamically.

A public electric bicycle station is located at an entrance to Bến Thành metro station in HCM City. Eco-friendly micro-mobility options are being integrated with public transport to boost urban connectivity and ease traffic congestion

Looking ahead to 2030, the city is partnering with international research institutions to deploy artificial intelligence and Digital Twin technology, piloting them on key routes like Route 150 to forecast commuter demand and optimise service frequencies across all transit modes.

Passengers travel inside an air-conditioned metro line No. 1 carriage during peak morning travel in HCM City. Modern and comfortable mass transit services are helping drive a shift towards greener commuting habits across the city.

On the ground, digital solutions directly improve the daily commute.

The official MultiGo application serves as a comprehensive mobility platform, allowing commuters to track real-time vehicle arrivals, plan intermodal journeys, and use digital ticketing across buses, metro line No. 1, Saigon River Bus, and public electric bike networks.

Residents use a ticket vending machine at a station on HCM City’s metro line No. 1. Modern ticketing systems have been deployed across the city’s public transit network to enhance passenger convenience.

With over 540,000 downloads, MultiGo supports the city’s vision of “one account, multiple transit modes.”

A resident uses the official MultiGo app to track real-time vehicle arrivals and plan multi-modal routes in HCM City. Smart mobility solutions and data-driven passenger information systems form core pillars of the city’s transit transformation.

Complementing this, the MultiPass system accepts diverse contactless payments, including EMV bank cards, QR codes, and e-wallets, which recorded over 9.5 million transactions in August alone.

A bus staff member assists a senior resident in using a citizen identification card for free transit in HCM City, blending social welfare with smart digital management.

First-mile and last-mile connectivity is significantly enhanced by public electric cycle-hire stations strategically located at metro entrances and river bus piers, providing flexible, zero-emission transfers.

Electric buses charge at a charging station in HCM City. The expansion of charging infrastructure and clean energy power supply supports the city’s transition to low-emission public transport.

Crucially, digital transition is closely aligned with social welfare.

Through electronic identification via VNeID and citizen accounts, senior residents and students access 100 per cent fare exemptions across 134 supported bus routes seamlessly and transparently.

Intelligent Transport Systems at the HCM City Public Transport Management Centre allow operators to track live fleets and dispatch orders via automated platforms like eBMS and GoAFC, powered by real-time GPS, eLVC transport orders, cameras, and validation data.

Combined with zero-emission electric buses, dedicated charging depots, waterway transport integration, and micro-mobility options, the city is shaping a modern, eco-friendly, and inclusive public transit ecosystem for all. — VNS