Convenient, orderly travel during peak days
On August 30, throngs of residents and visitors flocked to Cat Linh Station to try Ha Noi Metro Line 2A. The station remained bustling yet highly orderly, with many passengers visibly excited to experience the capital’s modern public transport system, some for the first time and others returning for another ride.
Despite the sharp increase in passenger numbers during the holiday, there was no congestion or prolonged queuing at the ticket counters or ticket gates. Staff efficiently orchestrated and guided passenger flows, with no pushing or jostling.
At Cat Linh Station, passengers required under a minute to receive a free QR code sticker placed directly on their hands, pass through the automatic ticket gates and board the train.
Ha Noi Metro implemented this ticketing method to streamline the process and minimise the time passengers spend navigating the station during periods of high demand.
For National Day, Ha Noi Metro offers passengers a 100% fare discount on single-journey tickets across the capital’s two metro lines throughout the five-day holiday, from August 29–September 2.
The entire cost of subsidising the fares is draws entirely from the city budget. The policy empowers residents to access modern public transport while helping ease pressure on roads during peak days.
During the five-day holiday, Lines 2A and 3 operate from 5:30am–10pm every day, with trains running approximately every 10 minutes.
The regular service frequency facilitates seamless travel for residents to leisure destinations in the city centre and other parts of the capital, while minimising waiting times.
To use the free metro service, passengers can secure zero-fare tickets directly from station ticket counters, through existing apps, or by using e-tickets and bank cards.
The joy of fare-free travel
At Cat Linh Station on the morning of August 30, Nguyen Thuy Huong, a resident of Bac Ninh Province, and her family enthusiastically boarded the metro.
As she prepared to pay for tickets for all four members of her family, Huong was surprised when a staff member informed her that the tickets were completely free.
“We are all very happy to be able to experience free metro travel during the holiday,” Huong stated.
Also at Cat Linh Station that morning, Pham Nguyen, a resident of Thach That, Ha Noi, noted the station was quite crowded, but obtaining tickets, passing through the gates, and boarding the train proceeded seamlessly. He was pleased that he did not have to wait long.
Clean, modern trains and a fast, convenient service process have made the metro a preferred option for many residents and visitors exploring the capital during the holiday.
For many families, travelling by metro not only offers a novel experience but also vividly reflects the growing appeal of public transport in urban life.
When organised efficiently, delivered with attentive service, and made responsive to travel needs, public transport evolves into a natural and user-friendly part of residents’ daily lives.
Alongside the fare-free policy, Ha Noi Metro continues to deploy integrated transport solutions to facilitate convenient passenger transit from origin to destination.
Passengers can utilise the “Integrated Trip Booking” (Be-Metro-Be) feature on the Ha Noi Metro app to connect ride-hailing and public transport journeys.
The solution aims to create seamless journeys and mitigate the friction passengers may face when switching between different modes of transport.
From the city’s fare subsidy policy and the organisation of services at stations to free train journeys and integrated transport solutions, Ha Noi Metro is actively provides residents with a highly streamlined public transport experience.
During the National Day celebrations, images of residents queuing in an orderly manner, passing through ticket gates quickly, and travelling on the metro in a civilised manner, without pushing or jostling, serve as a profound highlight amid the capital’s bustling urban life.
This is not merely the result of a free-fare programme, but also a vivid reflection of the awareness, transport culture, and civilised way of life cultivated within the community.
