Ho Chi Minh City plans to launch 17 bus routes to connect with stations of the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien Metro Line with the aim of facilitating passengers’ travel, according to the municipal Department of Transport.

These bus routes, scheduled to start operation from December 22, will link nearby streets to metro stations along the metro line. They will connect metro stations to residential areas, bus terminals,  the high-tech park, shopping centers, universities, and colleges.

Environmentally friendly electric buses with unique branding for easy identification will be operated on all the 17 routes. Detailed maps and schedules for each route will be displayed on information boards at metro stations.

In addition to the new routes, passengers can use existing bus routes that connect to the metro, including routes 1, 3, 4, 18, 19, 20, 31, 34, 36, 38, 39, 44, 45, 52, 53, 56, 65, 75, 88, 93, 102, 109, 152, and D4.

The metro line, the first one in Vietnam, runs 19.7km between Ben Thanh Market and the Suoi Tien Theme Park. It is set to commence comercial operations on December 22.