Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 officially inaugurated

According to Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, the inauguration ceremony of the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro Line No.1 took place at a special time as Vietnam and Japan enter the second year of implementing the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World.”

“For Ho Chi Minh City in particular, 2025 also has profound significance, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the south and national reunification. The Vietnamese government, including the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will continue to support Ho Chi Minh City in closely coordinating with the Japanese side to promote the completion of procedures and fully implement commitments related to the project in the spirit of sincerity, cooperation, and compliance with Vietnamese law,” said Vu.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc said at the ceremony that Metro Line 1 was Vietnam's third urban railway line, and the country's first underground metro line.

“This opening marks an important milestone in the transformation of Ho Chi Minh City's urban transport network,” Duoc said. “This metro line contributes to reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in the city, encouraging regional economic development, and strengthening the friendly relationship between Vietnam and Japan. Japan is a reliable partner, accompanying Vietnam in its development,” Duoc emphasised.

In addition, not only providing economic support, Japanese experts and Japanese businesses have shared valuable knowledge and experience.

“Over the past 10 years, Vietnam has overcome many difficulties, and the city is extremely grateful for the patience, determination and efforts of all stakeholders, including the people who have cooperated with this venture. In addition, it is hoped that the lessons learned from this metro initiative will be applied, based on the public transport-oriented urban development mindset, to continue to build and develop Ho Chi Minh City in the future,” he said.

Japan International Cooperation Agency vice president Miyazaki Katsura added that the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 had gone through 17 years since the project started until the inauguration day, which is a pleasing event.

“I would like to thank all parties involved for their efforts. This is the crystallisation of Japanese technology and experience, and a symbol of the cooperative relationship between Japan and Vietnam,” said Katsura.

Since it soft inauguration at the end of last year, the metro line has been used by people to go to work, school and other needs, starting to bring about significant changes in people's lives.

“In the future, with the development momentum from the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1, I expect the construction of urban railway lines and the consolidation of the public transport network in this city to be further promoted, contributing to reducing traffic congestion, improving air pollution and encouraging economic development in Ho Chi Minh City,” she said.

Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1, the city's first urban railway line, was put into operation on December 22, 2024. Since its commercial operation, it has served more than five million passengers (an average of about 70,000 passengers per day).