Based on the decision of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, the metro will remain free for the first 30 days of operation.

However, in practice, the free bus fare policy was implemented earlier, starting on 22 December 2024, coinciding with the official operation of the metro line.

[citation needed] The latest plans for Ho Chi Minh City Metro, a revised version of the earlier proposal in 2007, was approved on 8 April 2013.

[7][8] The network's first line, connecting Bến Thành Market and Suối Tiên Park in Thu Duc City, was originally scheduled for completion in 2014.

[9][10][11] Line 1 is mainly funded through official development assistance provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with the remainder being financed by the city's government budget.

The elevated sections were built by a joint venture between Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo and Vietnamese state-owned contractor Cienco 6.

All stations along the route are expected to accommodate the disabled, with automatic ticket vending machines, telephone booths, restrooms, subway doors and information bulletins accessible to the handicapped and visually impaired.

[citation needed] On 28 January 2019, the Director of Project Management Unit at MAUR, stated that as of December 2018, construction progress of Line 1 has reached 62%, below the target of 65%.

[22] In November 2023, Indian investors plan to develop nine metro lines, which would cost a total of VND437 trillion ($19 billion), according to the India Business Forum.

[25] During that same year, PowerChina, the Chinese giant, was in discussions with the government to develop railways, which included metro lines in HCMC.

[28] According to the draft Project of Urban railway system development which was approved by the People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024 and Decision No.

1711/QD-TTg approved by the Prime Minister on December 31, 2024[29][2][3], Ho Chi Minh City Metro System includes: Line 1 uses 17 trains supplied by Hitachi.

[40] On 27 December, heavy rain and lightning caused the protective electrical system of the Bến Thành - Suối Tiên metro line to activate, halting several trains for over 30 minutes to ensure safety.