Worry about rising prices
Every Tet holiday and Spring comes, along with increased travel, shopping, and consumption needs, a familiar worry reappears: Prices are escalating, especially in the passenger transport sector. Many people have fallen into the situation of "having money is also difficult to buy tickets", being pressured on prices, and being charged extra fees against regulations just because they want to be able to return home to reunite with their families in time.
Therefore, the Prime Minister's request to absolutely not allow the situation of price squeezing and taking advantage of Tet peak to illegally increase prices is emphasized once again in a recent directive on ensuring traffic order and safety and transportation activities during the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026.
According to the telegram signed and issued by Tran Hong Ha, besides the task of ensuring smooth and safe traffic, the protection of people's legitimate rights in accessing transportation services is placed in the central position. The message is very clear: Do not let anyone be "stuck" due to lack of means and even more unacceptable is the fact that people are being ripped off during Tet.
According to Lao Dong's records in many localities, although regulations on price declaration and listing are already in place, every peak holiday and Tet, sophisticated distortions still appear. Bus tickets are "out of stock" on the system but appear outside the route with prices many times higher; passengers are charged additional "packing", "sleeper fee", "transfer fee"; even in some cases, passengers are forced to pay higher than the ticket price written on the ticket if they do not want to be refused transportation.
These acts not only infringe on consumer rights, but also create anxiety and social frustration, going against the spirit of "Happy, healthy, safe, and economical Tet" that the Government has repeatedly emphasized.
Positive signs
However, some places have also proactively prepared vehicles and personnel for peak days. At My Dinh Bus Station (Hanoi), driver Nguyen Duc Tuan (Hanoi - Dien Bien route) said that the number of passengers at this time has not increased sharply, but it is expected to gradually increase in the next few days, when students start the Tet holiday. Although there are not many passengers, the volume of goods in both directions has increased, and many bus companies have proactively increased trips.
Representative of Futa Ha Son bus company (Hanoi - Lao Cai route), Mr. Nguyen Duc Luan, said that during the peak of the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026, the unit plans to increase to 90-100 trips/day, double the normal day. All vehicles are carefully checked for safety conditions before departure; drivers and staff must check alcohol concentration, strictly comply with regulations on stopping, resting, and changing drivers to ensure the health and safety of passengers.
At Giap Bat Bus Station, Mr. Do Hong Hai - Director of Hoang Son Transport Co., Ltd. (Hanoi - Thanh Hoa route) - said that the unit increased more than 10 trips/day during Tet, and at the same time committed to carrying the correct number of people, not transporting prohibited goods, and not increasing fares during peak hours.
According to the Deputy Director of My Dinh Bus Station - Mr. Doan Anh Phap, the peak period of passenger service during Tet is expected to start from February 14 (December 27 Tet). The bus station has requested 100% of officials and employees to be on duty, coordinating with transport businesses to arrange more than 1,000 additional bus trips. It is expected that the peak passenger volume will reach about 16,000-18,000 trips/day, with 900-950 trips/day, focusing on the routes of Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang...
Deputy Director of Nuoc Ngam Bus Station Trinh Hoai Nam said that all information about ticket prices and running hours is publicly listed; recommending people to enter the station to buy official tickets to ensure their rights.
New Year's joy is complete
A noteworthy point in this Government's direction is the approach from the root of the problem. Not only requiring handling violations of prices, the Government focuses on arranging sufficient means of transport, especially at key points such as bus stations, train stations, airports, and train stations. Along with that is the requirement to strictly control the operation of contract vehicles, fixed-route vehicles, waterway transport, especially types with large traffic during Tet.
Functional forces are also assigned the task of strengthening inspection and supervision of declaration and listing of fares and ticket prices; strictly handling violations.
According to Mr. Tran Hoang - Deputy Director of Hanoi Bus Station Management Company, this Tet holiday, the unit arranged more than 2,400 additional bus trips and so far no business has proposed to increase ticket prices. Cases of illegal ticket collection and carrying more people will be strictly handled.
The peak of Tet is approaching, the worry of "ticket outage" that occurred many years ago is gradually being reduced thanks to increased trips, ticket price transparency and application of technology. Bus stations and car companies recommend that people proactively buy tickets at the station, do not take illegal buses to ensure the journey home for Tet is safe and convenient.
What people expect is not only correct and accurate directions, but also substantive movements at the grassroots level. The hotline must be truly "hot", and feedback must be received and processed promptly. Publicizing phone numbers and responsible focal points is a step forward, but how effective it is depends on the sense of responsibility of each locality and each unit.
In addition, propaganda work also plays an important role. When people understand their rights, know the listed ticket prices, know where to reflect, then price squeezing behavior will hardly have "land to live".
