Official Operation Announcement of Urban Railway Line No. 1

The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board officially launched Urban Railway Line No. 1, Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien route (Metro Line No. 1), marking a significant milestone in the city’s public transportation system. Following the ceremony at Ben Thanh Central Station, commuters experienced riding the first urban railway line of Ho Chi Minh City (the City), with complimentary rides offered for the first 30 days to encourage adoption and familiarity with the new mode of transportation.

Official announcement ceremony of urban Railway Line No. 1.

Metro Line No. 1 spans 19.7 km, comprising 2.6 km of underground tracks and 17.1 km of elevated tracks, with a total of 14 stations: three underground stations (Ben Thanh, City Theater, Ba Son) and 11 elevated stations. It operates with 17 trains, each capable of carrying upto 930 passengers. With a high carrying capacity and fast travel times, the railway will reduce travel time between areas, alleviate traffic congestion on major roads, and improve air quality by decreasing the number of private vehicles. The modern and convenient train system will provide a safe, comfortable, and efficient travel experience, encouraging the use of public transportation and contributing to the development of a smart and sustainable city.

Metro Line No. 1 features modern contactless payments (EMV Contactless) with 270 point-of-sale (POS) terminals installed across 14 stations. Implemented under a strategic partnership between Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railways Company Limited (HURC1) and Mastercard, with the aim of promoting cashless payments for public transportation in the City,  passengers can make payments using their existing EMV Contactless debit and credit cards issued by domestic or international banks, or through EMV Contactless payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay. By eliminating the hassle of carrying cash, it will save time and enhance customer experience. The POS devices are equipped with a range of advanced features to provide a seamless and secure payment experience, including:

Support for diverse payment methods: Terminals support payment by international EMV debit and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, UnionPay, JCB, Amex), domestic EMV cards (NAPAS) and QR codes, providing users with a variety of payment options. EMV is a standard for globally interoperable, secure payments. With the EMV card, it uses dynamic digital data in each transaction to reduce fraud, authenticating payments instantly and ensuring they are valid and tied to the correct consumer.

Fast transactions: Transactions are processed in less than 500 milliseconds, ensuring fast payment time and no interruption to the passenger's boarding process.

Intuitive information display screen: Terminals will display clear information about transaction status, payment amount and immediate confirmation of successful transactions.

High security: In compliance with with EMVCo and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), there will be comprehensive security of transactions and customers’ personal information.

Customers also have the opportunity to enjoy attractive incentives such as accumulating points to redeem gifts or cashback.

“Enabling secure and seamless payments and building a diverse, intelligent urban payment ecosystem are core to Mastercard’s mission in Vietnam. For years, Mastercard has partnered with transit operators worldwide to improve operational efficiencies and improve rider experiences. As the first global technology company in payments industry to provide an Open-Loop payment system in Vietnam, Mastercard is honored to collaborate with HURC1, to bring fast and convenient transit experiences. This initiative will further accelerate Vietnam’s efforts to create a cashless society and enable modern digital transformation.” said Winnie Wong, Country Manager, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, Mastercard.

Free rides for the first 30 days

To celebrate its commercial launch, Metro Line No. 1 will offer free rides during the first 30 days, rolled out in three phases:

Phase 1: Starting December 22, 2024

• Mastercard is the only card scheme allowed, and the EMV payment will be available for Mastercard cardholders. Passengers can use physical (credit, debit, or prepaid) or virtual Mastercard cards via Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Garmin Pay issued by domestic or international banks to board the Metro.
• Passengers without an EMV Mastercard can be supported in the following options: Contact their current banking service provider or the nearest bank to request the issuance of a physical EMV Mastercard (credit card, debit card, or prepaid card); HURC1, in collaboration with Sacombank and other banks, will facilitate expedited card issuance (including personalized and pre-paid cards) at designated counters at the metro stations.
• Mastercard and collaborating banks will organize communication campaigns to raise awareness, expedited and online card issuance, promotional programs, and customer consultations to guide card identification and usage.

Phase 2: Starting January 1, 2025

• The feature for reading the ID card (National ID card with a chip) is expected to be completed and implemented. Priority passengers with a registered ID will be able to use their National ID cards to tap at the entry and exit gates across metro stations for free rides.
• People will be able to use their the ID cards (National ID cards with chips) scan at the reader devices at station ticket gates to ride the metro during this phase.

Phase 3: From January 10 to January 20, 2025

• The EMV card scanning feature for domestic payment systems (NAPAS) and international payment networks (Mastercard, VISA, UPI, AMEX, JCB), QR-code scanning, and the Ho Chi Minh City Metro app on mobile devices is expected to be completed and put into use. This phase will also introduce features like account registration for metro users, day pass ticket purchases, and the ability to top-up for monthly tickets through the app.
• Passengers will be able to use bank cards, EMV cards from both domestic and international organizations, or register virtual cards to experience the metro via Apple Pay/Samsung Pay or register accounts through the Ho Chi Minh City Metro app on their phones and receive a QR code for use when riding the metro.
• Payment processing companies and banks will launch promotional programs to encourage passengers to use cashless payments, including ticket discounts, cashback when using cards, or gifts when registering for service.

The City is evolving into a smart, sustainable metropolis with the robust development of its public transportation system. Metro Line No. 1 has officially entered commercial operation with the vision of developing the TOD model, with metro lines at its core. This initiative aims not only to solve traffic congestion but also to create modern urban areas. The metro system is expected to transform people's travel habits, encourage the use of public transportation, and drive economic growth. It will connect urban areas with the suburbs, contributing to the goal of harmonious and sustainable urban development.

D.A (Vietnam Business Forum)