No more paper tickets at 4 Ho Chi Minh City metro stations as cashless push begins

The change applies to City Theater, Ba Son, Van Thanh and Phuoc Long stations. Instead of queuing for paper tickets, passengers now have multiple digital options: buying QR tickets on the HCMC Metro HURC app or through MoMo's Metro Miniapp, tapping a bank card or e-wallet directly at the gates, or using chip-based ID cards already linked to their metro account. Automatic vending machines continue to accept cash, but they issue reloadable cards or QR codes instead of paper slips.

Operator HURC1 said the move is a pilot program to cut waiting times and reduce reliance on cash transactions. The company said it wanted to give commuters more convenient, modern choices while keeping the system efficient, adding that staff would be deployed at the four stations to assist first-time users.

The city's first metro line has a total of 14 stations: three underground and 11 elevated, stretching nearly 20 kilometers from downtown Ben Thanh Market to the eastern gateway in Suoi Tien. While paper tickets remain available at the other 10 stations, officials expect more passengers to shift to digital payments as they grow familiar with the system.

Commuters currently have up to eight ways to pay for rides. Besides QR codes and bank cards, passengers can also buy tickets at kiosks using POS machines, pay with e-wallets linked to their phones, or use monthly passes connected to chip-based ID cards. These options are designed to accommodate both daily travelers and occasional riders while encouraging Vietnam's broader transition to cashless transactions.

The Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line entered service at the end of 2024 after years of construction delays. Trains operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with frequency adjusted depending on demand, especially during weekends and holidays.

Ticket prices range from VND6,000 to VND20,000 (US$0.24-0.79) per trip.