From 2025, passengers will receive a refund for their bus tickets when canceling their trip

Lawyer Nguyen Thi Thuy, YouMe Law Firm LLC replied:

Article 16 of Circular No. 36/2024/TT-BGTVT (effective from January 1, 2025) stipulates the rights and responsibilities of passengers as follows:

1. Require transport business units to provide services according to announced and listed service quality standards.

2. Require the bus attendant to issue the correct ticket after paying; keep the ticket throughout the journey and present it when checked by an authorized person.

3. Receive a refund of the ticket price according to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 14 of this Circular.

4. Complain, make recommendations, and reflect on violations of transport management regulations by transport businesses, drivers, and on-vehicle service staff and request compensation for damages (if any).

5. Comply with regulations to ensure safety, security and order on the vehicle; get on and off the vehicle at bus stations or pick-up and drop-off points according to regulations.

6. Perform other responsibilities as prescribed in the Road Law and the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.

Clause 4, Article 14 of Circular No. 36/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulates the powers and responsibilities of fixed-route transport business units as follows:

4. Responsible for paying at least 90% of the ticket price for passengers who have purchased tickets but refuse the trip at least 02 hours before the vehicle departs for fixed routes with a distance of 300 km or less and at least 04 hours for fixed routes with a distance of over 300 km; paying at least 70% of the ticket price for passengers who have purchased tickets but refuse the trip at least 1 hour before the vehicle departs for fixed routes with a distance of 300 km or less and at least 2 hours for fixed routes with a distance of over 300 km.

Thus, from January 1, 2025, passengers who have purchased tickets but refuse to travel on fixed routes before the bus departs will be refunded at least 70% according to the above regulations.