Hanoi has started making many bus trips free within Ring Road 1, the city's central area, as part of a push to prioritize cleaner transport in a low-emissions zone.
VTV reports that from July 1 through July 21, about 614,000 passenger trips were taken under the free-fare policy. The report also notes nearly 13,000 people registered for an electronic bus card in the same period.
The free-fare zone covers 45 subsidized bus routes and uses an electronic ticketing system to apply the discount. The policy follows a resolution by Hanoi's city council and is set to run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
It's early days, and free rides alone won't solve congestion or air pollution. But as a first-month signal, the numbers suggest a lot of people are willing to try public transport when the barrier is lowered.
