HCM City will add 500 electric bicycles to its public transport system before the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, aiming to expand green travel options and improve links with buses and metro services.
When battery levels run low, the bikes will issue a warning signal so users can return them to a station for a battery change. If a battery is not replaced in time, the bicycle can still be used as a conventional bike, ensuring journeys are not interrupted.
Rental fees are expected to be VND 20,000 (USD 0.77) for 30 minutes, VND 35,000 (USD 1.35) for 60 minutes and VND 65,000 (USD 2.50) for 120 minutes. Users can scan a QR code on the bike via the TNGO or Zalo apps to register, unlock and use the service, following the same model as the current public bicycle scheme.
The public bicycle service in Ho Chi Minh City was launched in late 2021 with 43 stations and nearly 400 bikes. It was later expanded to 52 stations and more than 500 bicycles, mainly in central areas near transport hubs and commercial and tourist sites. Rental prices for standard bicycles are VND 5,000 (USD 0.19) for 30 minutes and VND 10,000 (USD 0.38) for one hour.
Usage data show nearly 320,000 rides were recorded in 2022, falling to more than 164,000 in 2023 and about 80,400 in 2024. The investor said the decline was expected as the service moved from a trial phase to serving users with real demand. However, traditional bicycles are less suitable for people needing to travel quickly or over longer distances, making electric bikes a more flexible and competitive alternative to motorbikes.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Centre, adding electric bicycles will broaden travel choices, support green transport goals and strengthen connections between buses and metro lines in the coming period.
The city has also recently opened a dedicated bicycle lane on Mai Chi Tho Boulevard, seen as an initial step towards building a network of separate lanes to encourage cycling linked to public transport.
Outside Ho Chi Minh City, Tri Nam rolled out 500 electric bicycles within Hanoi’s public bicycle network in December 2025.