Party General Secretary To Lam rides the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line (metro line No.1) on February 22. (Photo: VNA)

During his journey from Ben Thanh to Tan Cang station, Lam engaged with passengers who enthusiastically shared their experience using the modern public transit system. Commuters said it helps reduce travel time, meet their travel demand, while improving living quality.

The 19.7-kilometer metro line, connecting downtown HCM City to its eastern gateway, features 14 stations, three underground and 11 elevated, plus a depot. The project, approved in 2007, had a total investment of over 43.7 trillion VND (1.71 billion USD). Construction on the line began in 2012.

Since its official launch on December 22, 2024, the line has served more than 4.6 million passengers.

Beyond alleviating traffic congestion in the city center, the line catalyzes urban expansion eastward, contributing to HCM City's sustainable socio-economic development. The municipal People’s Committee sees the system not only as a modern urban transport solution but also a symbol of the city's aspirations for growth, integration, and sustainable development.