HCMC Metro Line 1: A Tourist’s Guide to Getting Around Saigon (2026)

The HCMC Metro Line 1 is the first metro system in Ho Chi Minh City, running 14 stations from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City. NOTE – The Scent Lab is a perfume workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with a location at R Space near Thao Dien Station — one of the most tourist-friendly stops on the line. This 2026 guide covers every station, ticket prices, operating hours, and the best things to do along the route. This HCMC metro guide guide covers everything you need to know.

After decades of planning and construction, Saigon finally has a metro. Opened in December 2024, Metro Line 1 changed how tourists move through the city. A trip from Ben Thanh Market to Thao Dien that once took 30-45 minutes by taxi now takes 12 minutes underground — no traffic, no heat, no negotiating fares. For travelers, it opens up neighborhoods that were previously hard to reach without a motorbike.

There is something almost surreal about descending into Ben Thanh Station for the first time. Above ground, Saigon is its usual self — see our District 1 walking tour for what to explore at street level — motorbikes weaving, vendors calling, the air thick with exhaust and grilled corn smoke. Below ground, everything is cool, clean, and startlingly quiet. The platforms gleam. The signage is bilingual. The train arrives on time. It feels like stepping into a different city entirely, and in a way, you are — you are stepping into the Saigon that has been building itself for the next decade.

HCMC Metro Line 1: Route Overview

Line 1 runs 19.7 kilometers from northwest to southeast. The first three stations are underground in District 1. The remaining eleven stations are elevated, offering views of the city as you travel through Binh Thanh and into Thu Duc City (formerly District 2 and District 9).

Here are all 14 stations in order, from the city center outward:

1. Ben Thanh — District 1 (underground)
2. Opera House — District 1 (underground)
3. Ba Son — District 1 (underground)
4. Van Thanh — Binh Thanh District (elevated)
5. Tan Cang — Binh Thanh District (elevated)
6. Thao Dien — Thu Duc City (elevated)
7. An Phu — Thu Duc City (elevated)
8. Rach Chiec — Thu Duc City (elevated)
9. Phuoc Long — Thu Duc City (elevated)
10. Binh Thai — Thu Duc City (elevated)
11. Thu Duc — Thu Duc City (elevated)
12. Hi-Tech Park — Thu Duc City (elevated)
13. National University — Thu Duc City (elevated)
14. Suoi Tien — Thu Duc City (elevated)

Tickets, Prices, and How to Pay

The metro uses a flat-plus-distance fare system. Single journey tickets cost between 7,000 and 20,000 VND (roughly $0.30-$0.80 USD) depending on distance. A trip from Ben Thanh to Thao Dien — the most common tourist route. See our near Thao Dien Metro Station guide for a full walking itinerary from the exit — costs approximately 12,000-15,000 VND.

You can buy single-trip tokens at station vending machines, which accept cash (VND) and contactless cards. For multiple trips, a rechargeable metro card saves time at gates. The machines have English-language options.

Operating hours: Trains run from approximately 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM, with frequencies of 5-8 minutes during peak hours and 8-12 minutes off-peak. Check posted schedules at stations for the latest times.

The 5 Best Stations for Tourists

1. Ben Thanh Station — The Starting Point

Most tourists begin here. Ben Thanh Station sits directly beneath Ben Thanh Market, the city’s most famous landmark. Above ground, you are steps from the market’s food stalls, the Bui Vien backpacker area, and the central District 1 attractions. The station connects to buses and is the planned interchange for future Metro Line 2.

What to do nearby: Ben Thanh Market (day and night markets), Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Central Post Office. The night market surrounding Ben Thanh is worth returning for after dark — the stalls shift from souvenirs to street food, and the aroma of sizzling banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese crepes) and grilled seafood fills the surrounding blocks.

2. Opera House Station — Culture and Architecture

Named for the Saigon Opera House (Municipal Theatre), this station puts you in the heart of colonial-era Saigon. Dong Khoi Street — the city’s most elegant boulevard — runs past French-era buildings, galleries, and bookshops. The Opera House itself hosts regular performances. Walking Dong Khoi in the early morning, before the heat settles in, is one of Saigon’s quiet pleasures — the French-colonial facades glow in soft light, and the cafes along the street are just opening their shutters, sending the scent of fresh-brewed Vietnamese coffee drifting across the pavement.

What to do nearby: Saigon Opera House, Dong Khoi Street shopping, Ho Chi Minh City Museum, historic hotels and cafes.

3. Ba Son Station — Nguyen Hue and Cafe Apartment

Ba Son is the closest station to Nguyen Hue Walking Street, one of Saigon’s most photographed spots. The famous Cafe Apartment building at 42 Nguyen Hue — a former residential block converted into a vertical village of cafes and creative studios — is a short walk away. NOTE – The Scent Lab has a workshop location inside the Cafe Apartment building, making it easy to combine a walking street visit with a perfume-making experience.

What to do nearby: Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Cafe Apartment (42 Nguyen Hue), Bitexco Financial Tower, riverside promenade, NOTE perfume workshop at Cafe Apartment.

4. Thao Dien Station — Cafes, Workshops, and R Space

Thao Dien Station is the gateway to one of Saigon’s most walkable neighborhoods. Once a quiet expat area, Thao Dien now draws tourists for its independent cafes, creative studios, and green streets. R Space at 34 Nguyen Duy Hieu is approximately 10 minutes on foot from the station — a creative complex housing the R Parfums showroom, the courtyard cafe, and the NOTE perfume workshop.

The workshop takes 90 minutes. A workshop instructor guides you through 30+ professional-grade ingredients — including Vietnamese specialties like lotus, cinnamon, and agarwood — to create your own custom Eau de Parfum. Your formula is saved permanently. What makes the experience memorable is not just the perfume you take home — it is the way your senses recalibrate. After ninety minutes of training your nose to distinguish bergamot from grapefruit, vetiver from cedarwood, you step back onto Thao Dien’s streets and suddenly notice everything: the frangipani blooming over a garden wall, the charcoal smoke from a com tam cart, the warm green smell of rain about to arrive. The workshop changes how you experience the rest of your trip. For a detailed walking guide from the station, see our guide to things near Thao Dien Metro Station.

The elevator is famously unreliable. Most visitors take the stairs, and by the time they reach our floor, they’ve already discovered three cafes and a gallery they didn’t plan to visit.

“Cam was very hands-on and guided us every step of the way. A perfect experience if you’re looking for a relaxing and intentional activity in HCMC.”

What to do nearby: R Space (R Parfums + NOTE workshop + the courtyard cafe), independent cafes on Xuan Thuy, restaurants on Nguyen Duy Hieu, Saigon River riverfront.

Book Your 90-Minute Perfume Workshop →

5. Suoi Tien Station — Theme Park and Day Trip

The final station on Line 1 serves Suoi Tien Theme Park, a sprawling Vietnamese cultural theme park that is unlike anything Western tourists have seen before. It is a good half-day trip for families or anyone curious about Vietnamese folklore brought to life in a slightly surreal way — giant dragon sculptures, Buddhist-themed water parks, and crocodile enclosures all coexist in a landscape that feels equal parts theme park and fever dream. The National University campus is one stop prior, and the Hi-Tech Park station serves the growing tech district where much of Saigon’s startup scene is based.

For most tourists, the sweet spot on Line 1 is the central five stations — Ben Thanh through Thao Dien. This stretch covers the major historical and cultural attractions in District 1, the walkable creative neighborhood of Thao Dien, and two NOTE workshop locations along the way. You could spend three full days exploring just this corridor and still discover new streets.

Practical Metro Tips for Tourists

• Air conditioning: Trains and underground stations are fully air-conditioned — a welcome escape from Saigon’s heat.
• Luggage: Standard carry-on bags are fine. Large suitcases may be restricted during peak hours.
• Safety: The metro is modern, clean, and well-staffed. Security is present at all stations.
• Google Maps: Metro stations appear on Google Maps with real-time directions. Search “Ben Thanh Metro Station” or “Thao Dien Metro Station” for navigation.
• Transfers: Line 1 is currently the only operational line. Future lines will connect at Ben Thanh (Line 2) and other interchange stations.
• Rush hour: 7-9 AM and 5-7 PM are busiest. For a comfortable ride, travel mid-morning or early afternoon.
• Photography: The elevated stations from Van Thanh onward offer excellent views of the city. Thao Dien Station in particular gives a panoramic look at the Saigon River and the developing Thu Duc skyline — worth a moment before you descend.
• Accessibility: All stations have elevators and escalators. Platforms are level with train doors for easy boarding with strollers or wheelchairs.

How the Metro Connects to Other Transport

At Ben Thanh Station, you can connect to city buses, taxis, and Grab ride-hails. Most tourists use the metro for the Ben Thanh-to-Thao Dien corridor, then switch to Grab for destinations off the line. This combination eliminates the worst traffic congestion while keeping costs low.

A practical tip that experienced Saigon visitors swear by: use the metro as your north-south spine, and Grab for the east-west connections. This strategy keeps you out of the heaviest traffic corridors — particularly the Saigon Bridge and Thu Thiem Tunnel bottlenecks during rush hour — and means you spend your travel time looking out a window instead of staring at brake lights.

From Thao Dien Station, it is a 10-minute walk to R Space. Alternatively, a quick Grab bike (xe om) from the station costs about 10,000 VND if you prefer not to walk in the heat. The walk itself is pleasant though — shaded by mature trees, passing independent cafes where you might want to stop for an iced tea before or after your workshop.

What Travelers Say About Visiting HCMC by Metro

Travelers who combine the metro with neighborhood exploration consistently rate it as a highlight. Those who stop at Thao Dien for the NOTE workshop share these experiences:

“I loved my fragrance making experience. I have a beautiful souvenir to take home and every time I smell it, I will remember Saigon. Thanh was an excellent teacher.”

“Really fun and interactive experience with creating unique scents. Both Stephanie and Lyn were really helpful and kindly walked our group through the entire activity. Would recommend in HCMC!”

“Kty Chin led us through a wonderful perfume making workshop. A beautiful way to spend a breezy afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City and we came away with bespoke perfume.”

Combining Metro Stops: A One-Day HCMC Itinerary

Here is a full-day plan using the metro as your backbone:

• 9:00 AM — Ben Thanh Station: Start with a walk through Ben Thanh Market. Grab a Vietnamese coffee and banh mi.
• 10:30 AM — Ba Son Station: Walk to Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Explore the Cafe Apartment building. Optionally, visit the NOTE workshop at 42 Nguyen Hue.
• 12:00 PM — Metro to Thao Dien Station: Ride takes 8 minutes. Walk 10 minutes to R Space.
• 12:30 PM — Lunch in Thao Dien: Choose from dozens of restaurants on Nguyen Duy Hieu or Xuan Thuy.
• 2:00 PM — NOTE Perfume Workshop at R Space: 90 minutes of hands-on fragrance creation. Browse NOTE products and R Parfums after.
• 4:00 PM — Walk the neighborhood: Thao Dien’s tree-lined streets, cafes, riverfront.
• 5:30 PM — Metro back to Ben Thanh: Evening in District 1 — dinner, night market, or rooftop drinks.

Book Your Perfume Workshop Near Thao Dien Station →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the HCMC metro cost?

Single journey tickets range from 7,000 to 20,000 VND ($0.30-$0.80 USD) depending on distance. A Ben Thanh to Thao Dien trip costs approximately 12,000-15,000 VND.

What are the HCMC metro operating hours?

Trains run from approximately 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM daily. Peak-hour frequency is every 5-8 minutes; off-peak every 8-12 minutes.

Which metro station is closest to Nguyen Hue Walking Street?

Ba Son Station is the closest, putting you within walking distance of Nguyen Hue, the Cafe Apartment at 42 Nguyen Hue, and the NOTE perfume workshop location there.

How do I get from Thao Dien Station to R Space?

Walk southeast from Thao Dien Station for about 10 minutes along tree-lined streets to reach R Space at 34 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City.

Is the HCMC metro safe for tourists?

Yes. The system is modern, clean, air-conditioned, and well-staffed with security. English signage is available at all stations and on trains.

Can I use the metro to reach Ben Thanh Market?

Yes. Ben Thanh Station is directly beneath Ben Thanh Market — the main interchange station and starting point of Metro Line 1.

Where can I book a perfume workshop near the metro?

Book at workshop.thescentnote.com/book. The R Space location in Thao Dien is a 10-minute walk from Thao Dien Station. The Cafe Apartment location is near Ba Son Station. Follow @note.workshop on Instagram for updates.