Ho Chi Minh City has launched 25 new electric bus routes, introducing hundreds of battery-electric buses into operation as part of efforts to transition its public transport system away from fossil fuels.
Vietnamnet reported that the city’s transport authority confirmed the routes began service on March 1. Operating rights were awarded through tenders to VinBus Ecology Transport Services and Phuong Trang Passenger Transport Joint Stock Company, which will manage nine and 16 routes respectively.
See also: Vietnam’s GSM Weighs Hong Kong IPO as EV Taxi Operator Seeks Overseas Expansion
The expansion builds on earlier plans announced as far back as 2020 to electrify the city’s bus network. VinBus and Futa Buslines — affiliated with Phuong Trang — already operate electric routes in the metropolitan area.
As of mid-2025, Ho Chi Minh City had 613 electric buses in service, representing roughly a quarter of its fleet. In addition, nearly 500 buses run on compressed natural gas (CNG), reflecting a broader shift toward lower-emission transport options.
See also: Ho Chi Minh City Plans Petrol Vehicle Restrictions as Vietnam Pushes Electric Two-Wheelers
Following administrative changes that merged nearby provinces Bình Dương and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu into the city’s jurisdiction, Ho Chi Minh City now oversees 179 bus routes with about 2,320 vehicles in total.
Officials say increasing the share of electric buses supports the city’s objective of operating a fully “clean” bus fleet by 2030, in line with Vietnam’s national strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels across the transport sector.
