I’ve gradually gotten used to the sight of countless motorbikes filling the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. As that now-familiar scenery, I have recently noticed that public buses run surprisingly frequently. Looking more closely, I realized that both the bus stops and the buses themselves are surprisingly new and clean.

A public bus

I heard that a special initiative has just begun, making bus fares completely free from July 1st to December 31st, 2026. This measure aims to ease traffic congestion, reduce environmental impact, and encourage more people to use public transportation. It is certainly a wonderful and welcome initiative for commuters.

Since I haven’t had the chance to ride a city bus yet, when I do, I’d like to come back and share my experience here.

A bus stop sign

On a side note, as shown in the above photo, a sidewalk barbershop was operating under a green umbrella across the street from the bus stop. It’s a scene that has become part of the city’s everyday landscape – and one of the unique charms of Ho Chi Minh City.