Modernising smart public transport ecosystem

Just a few days after the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Centre launched the MultiGo application on mobile devices, more than 200,000 downloads had been recorded. The app enables users to search for information on bus routes, schedules, and real-time arrival times at bus stops. MultiGo also helps users find optimal routes by combining different modes of transport, such as buses, urban railway (metro), public bicycles, and ride-hailing services.

“MultiGo is easy to use, especially for searching routes and destinations. Users just need to enter their departure and destination points, and the app suggests the most efficient route, with detailed instructions on which bus to take, where to get on and off, and estimated travel time,” shared Nguyen Thanh Chuong, a HCMC University of Technology and Education student.

This feature helps save time for passengers and enables them to actively track bus arrivals, reducing unnecessary waiting.

To promote cashless payment, the Department of Construction recently introduced the MultiPass card for integrated payments for public transport services, including buses, metro, and river buses. According to Nguyen Thi Da Thao, Director of the city’s Public Transport Management Centre, the cashless payment feature on the MultiGo app allows users to register for a virtual MultiPass card directly in the app. Therefore, MultiPass is more than just a payment method, it serves to connect and digitise urban travel.

According to the Public Transport Management Centre, the electronic ticketing system has been installed and is operating on Metro Line No. 1, and 1,000 vehicles are operating on 62 out of the 108 subsidised bus routes in the city. The goal is to implement fully integrated electronic payment in the entire public transport network by the second quarter of 2025. Ho Chi Minh City aims to apply various forms of e-payment on the Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line, eventually eliminating cash payments in public transport.

Currently, the city's bus system includes 138 routes, 108 subsidised and 30 non-subsidised routes, served by over 2,200 vehicles operating around 14,000 trips per day and transporting an average of nearly 300,000 passengers daily.

To manage data effectively and enhance public transport operations, the city’s Public Transport Management Centre is maintaining the efficiency of its online operation centre. This centre uses data from the GPS and onboard surveillance cameras to monitor approximately 14,000 bus trips per day. It is also supported by a comprehensive monitoring wall screen and the hotline 1022, which provides timely information and support for passengers. All buses are fully equipped with GPS monitoring devices, surveillance cameras, and an automatic station exit system to support information for passengers following regulations.

According to Le Hoan, Deputy Director of the Public Transport Management Centre, the Bus Management System (BMS) plays a central role in digitising and coordinating the operation of all 138 bus routes, nearly 4,500 stops, and more than 2,000 vehicles on subsidised bus routes. Every day, the system receives and verifies journey data from approximately 14,000 trips, serving the inspection and ensuring service quality. In addition, the centre has implemented an RFID-based system to control and confirm bus trips at the start and end points of routes. This system is currently used to verify over 900 trips per day on four subsidised routes: No. 4, 27, 33, and 65.

“The centre has also developed software to digitise daily bus operation inspections, allowing for strict control and detailed statistics of work results. Technology application helps enhance transparency, prevent negative behaviours during the performance of tasks, and improve accountability among staff,” Hoan noted.

According to leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, during the 2025–2030 period, the department and centre aim to implement electronic transport orders to replace manual paperwork, shorten times, and improve the ability to monitor operating routes. Notably, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics will allow for forecasting of passenger demand, early detection of anomalies, and adjustments to bus frequencies and routes according to real time.

In the near future, Ho Chi Minh City plans to integrate electronic payments in the entire system, including buses, metro, car parks, and other connected transport services, to form a comprehensive smart public transport ecosystem.

With this strategic orientation, Ho Chi Minh City is making strong efforts and determination to change the face of its public transport, with aggressive application of digital technology in management and operations to better serve people’s travel needs.

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