People in Hanoi to enjoy free bus, metro rides during upcoming holidays

The municipal People’s Committee plans to waive fares on 128 bus routes and two metro lines during upcoming holidays, including a three-day break for Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day and a four-day break for Reunification Day. This initiative aims to promote public transportation use, alleviate congestion, and ease financial burdens on passengers.

The municipal People’s Committee has approved a plan to waive fares on subsidized bus and metro services during the upcoming holiday periods, aiming to support mobility and ease congestion across the city.

Under the Labor Code, public employees are entitled to one day off for Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day and two days for the Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day holiday. In 2026, Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day falls on Sunday, April 26, with a compensatory day off on Monday, April 27, creating a three-day break from April 25 to April 27. The Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day holidays, falling on April 30 and May 1, extend into a four-day break from April 30 to May 3.

The fare exemption will apply to 128 subsidized bus routes and two urban rail lines, the Cat Linh-Ha Dong line and the Nhon-Cau Giay line, over a total of seven days. The program will be implemented in two phases: from April 25 to April 27, and from April 30 to May 3.

For bus services, passengers will receive tickets corresponding to each route’s fare value, though no payment will be required. On routes piloting electronic ticketing systems, digital tickets will be issued via onboard POS devices at zero cost.

Metro passengers will similarly be able to obtain free tickets either at station counters or through the Hanoi Metro mobile applications.

The initiative is designed not only to ease financial pressure on residents and visitors but also to encourage the use of public transport during peak travel periods. City authorities expect the measure to help boost ridership and reduce traffic congestion across the capital while contributing to a more positive holiday experience.