Recently, I took a city bus in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time.

Even in Japan, taking a bus in a place you have never been before can feel a little intimidating. So, I did some research on the route beforehand, then headed to a bus stop for buses going toward the city center and waited for the route I was looking for.

When I spotted my bus approaching, I gently raised my hand to signal that I wanted it to stop. Luckily, I was able to get on without any trouble.

A bus station

The bus I took was an electric bus (EV), slightly smaller than the regular city buses in Japan. The inside was clean, and there was even a button to signal when you wanted to get off, so in many ways, it was quite similar to a bus in Japan.

What surprised me most was that there was also a bus attendant on board.

Inside an EV city bus

The receipt (ticket) I received from the attendant showed a fare of “7,000 VND.” For a ride of about 15 minutes, that works out to only around 0.42 dollar—remarkably cheap.

What surprised me even more was that from July through December, bus fares are actually free as part of a policy to encourage the use of public transportation! (Some services still charge a fare.) The policy also applies to foreign visitors.

So, this time, I got off the bus without paying anything, still holding the receipt showing 7,000 VND in my hand.

A bus ticket

After my first experience riding a Ho Chi Minh City bus, I realized that once you get the hang of how to use it, it is a very affordable and convenient way to get around. If you have a chance to visit Ho Chi Minh City, why not give the bus a try?