00:00Vietnam's first metro line officially opened in Ho Chi Minh on Sunday, after years of delays
00:06and setbacks.
00:07The railway line, built mostly with financial assistance from the Japanese government, was
00:12approved in 2007, with construction beginning in 2012.
00:17After 17 years of planning and 12 years of construction, the line was finally completed
00:23at a cost of over 1.7 billion dollars, more than double the initial projected cost of
00:29668 million dollars.
00:32Ho Chi Minh residents who rode the train for the first time on Sunday were excited that
00:37the line was finally opened after the long delay.
00:40The Vietnamese government hopes the metro line will encourage motorists to switch to
00:44public transport and, in turn, help alleviate the severe traffic congestion which plagues
00:49the city.
00:51Residents on the metro line will be free during the first month of operation.
00:55Vietnam plans to construct a further six metro lines in Ho Chi Minh City.
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