Inauguration of the No. 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line: Symbol of Vietnam - Japan cooperation
On the morning of March 9, the No. 1 metro line (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien line) was officially inaugurated after more than 2 months of commercial operation.
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| Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the No. 1 metro line. (Source: JICA) |
According to Mr. Phan Cong Bang, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Project Management Board (MAUR), the No. 1 metro line, with a total length of 19.7 km, including 14 stations, connecting from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City to Thu Duc City, is the first underground section in the country, applying many modern and advanced construction methods.
The project uses ODA capital from the Japanese Government and domestic counterparts. Therefore, the project is a key economic cooperation between the two governments of Vietnam and Japan and a symbol of the good friendship between the two countries.
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| Ho Chi Minh City leaders and Japanese partners at the inauguration ceremony. (Source: JICA) |
Starting construction in August 2012 and operating from December 22, 2024, the No. 1 metro line has served more than 5 million passengers and received positive feedback from the people. According to Ho Chi Minh City leaders, the management and operation of the project must ensure safety and efficiency. Therefore, relevant units need to prepare detailed plans and scenarios to be proactive in exploitation.
At the inauguration ceremony, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Miyaji Takuma said the metro line was Japan's largest ODA project for Vietnam since 2007. "This is a great project symbolizing cooperation between Japan and Vietnam. We expect the metro line to contribute to reducing traffic congestion and pollution, helping Ho Chi Minh City develop its economy," he said.
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| After the ceremony, delegates experienced the metro train. (Source: JICA) |
Ms. Miyazaki Katsura, Permanent Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project sponsor, said that along with the investment capital, this is the first urban railway line to apply technology and experience from Japan.
Deputy Minister Miyaji Takuma hopes that completing the metro line will help promote other urban railway projects and increase the public transport network in Ho Chi Minh City. According to Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, the inauguration of the metro took place in a unique context when Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country were preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of national reunification. This is an essential project in the relationship between Vietnam and Japan, especially when the two countries are in a comprehensive strategic cooperation.
| Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro will be operated from December 22, 2024. During the first month of operation, the fee was free for passengers, currently applying a price of 6,000-20,000 VND/trip, monthly ticket of 300,000 VND, and 1-3 day tickets, unlimited trips. In nearly 3 months of operation, the train has served more than 5 million passengers, exceeding the original plan. The entire metro line is 19.7 km long with 14 stations, of which three underground stations in the central area are the first in Vietnam. The project has a total investment of more than 43,700 billion VND, using Japanese ODA capital and domestic counterpart funds. |
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